AMN
Notification has been issued for the single-phase Assembly General Elections for Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry today. Nomination papers from candidates will be received from today till 29th of this month, except during public holidays.
The Election Commission has clarified that nomination papers will not be received tomorrow as the day being the fourth Saturday is declared as bank holiday. Meanwhile, political parties in Tamil Nadu have spearheaded their election campaign in the run up to the May 16 election.
Puducherry with 9.48 lakh voters has 12 Returning Officers accepting nominations from 11 am today. Of these 8 are in Puducherry Two in Karaikal and one each in Mahe and Yanam. Police had made elaborate security arrangements around all the returning offices. No candidate will be allowed to take more than three vehicles to the office of the Returning Officer. A maximum of five people including the candidate will be allowed in the room of the Returning Officer as per Chief Electoral Officer. Meanwhile confusion prevail in political circles in Puducherry as the major players the ruling NR Congress and Congress-DMK combine are yet to come up with candidate lists. Hectic parleys are going on within parties to finalise the lists.
Election Commission has issued notification for the General Assembly election of Kerala scheduled to be held on 16th May. Nominations can be filed up to 29th of this month. Scrutiny of nominations is to be held on 30th. Withdrawal of candidature will be allowed up to 2nd May. More than 2.56 crores of people will get the right to franchise. Out of the 140 constituencies in Kerala, 14 are reserved for SC and two seats are reserved for Scheduled tribes.