Pattali Makkal Katchi Mayoral candidate for Madurai Corporation R.K. Ramesh did not file his papers on Thursday, the last day for filing nomination for the local body election.
PMK sources attributed it to a domestic issue for Ramesh, the State deputy general secretary of the party. A total of 39 persons filed their nominations for the post of Mayor that is open for all. Candidates of 12 political parties, recognised and unrecognised, are in the fray for Corporation expanded to include of 17 new local bodies.
Among the prominent candidates are V.V. Rajan Chellappa (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), P. Packianathan (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), K. Kaviarasu (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam) and I. Siluvai (Congress). Other parties that have fielded their candidates are Bharatiya Janata Party (U. Rajendran), Puthiya Tamilagam (T. Anbarasan), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (Thiruma M. Pasumpon), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (A. Baskara Sethupathi), Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (M. Khader Mohideen), Indian Union Muslim League (A.K. Mohideen) and Indhiya Jananayaka Katchi (M. Eswari).
Two candidates had filed their papers claiming to be the official candidate of Bahujan Samaj Party. Corporation Commissioner and Returning Officer S. Natarajan said that if the issue was not clarified soon, both of them would be treated as independents. A transgender, Alaguraj alias Bharati Kannamma, has also filed nomination. A total of 44 nominations were received as four nominations were received on behalf of Mr. Packianathan (DMK) and two each on behalf of Mr. Rajan Chellappa and Mr. Kaviarasu.
A total of 1,355 nominations have been received for the 100 posts of councillor in Madurai Corporation. A whopping 1,003 nominations were received in the four zones on Thursday alone, the last day for filing nominations. With crowded offices of Assistant Returning Officers, the nomination papers were accepted from the candidates even after 3 p.m., the deadline for receipt of the papers. The papers would be scrutinised on Friday. The last day for withdrawal of nominations is October 3.
