240 candidates contest from the south

As many as 240 candidates are set to battle it out across the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in southern Tamil Nadu in the 16th Lok Sabha elections.

While the Madurai and Ramanathapuram constituencies lead the list with 31 candidates contesting, the Tirunelveli and Sivaganga constituencies come second with 27 candidates and Virudhunagar comes a close third with 26 candidates. The Kanyakumari Parliamentary constituency has 25 candidates in the fray and Theni follows with 23 candidates.

The constituencies of Dindigul and Tenkasi will both see 18 candidates battle it out, and the Tuticorin constituency has 14 candidates in the fray. Despite the presence of candidates from established political parties such as the AIADMK, DMK, DMDK, MDMK, Congress, CPI (M) and BSP, a sizable number of independent candidates too will be contesting from most constituencies.

Among the parties contesting is new entrant Aam Aadmi Party whose candidates will be contesting from the Kanyakumari, Madurai, Sivaganga and Dindigul constituencies.