Twenty-nine nominations were filed for the Assembly elections on the first day after the Governor and Election Commission of India issued the election notification on Friday.
While the Chief Secretary issued the notification on behalf of the Governor, the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, issued it on behalf of the Commission. Prominent among those who filed papers on Friday were Congress leaders K. Muraleedharan and Rajmohan Unnithan and Kummanam Rajasekharan and V. Muraleedharan of the BJP.
K. Muraleedharan who is contesting from Vattiyurkavu submitted his nomination before the returning officer at the public office here. Mr. Rajasekharan, a candidate in the Vattiyurkavu constituency, and V. Muraleedharan who is seeking a mandate from Kazhakuttam filed their papers at the Collectorate here. Mr. Unnithan, a candidate in the Kundara constituency in Kollam district, filed his nomination before the returning officer at the District Collectorate.
The highest number of nominations was received in Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam districts (seven each). No papers were filed in Idukki, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Wayanad, and Kannur. The number of nominations received in other districts: Kollam - 3, Pathanamthitta - 1, Alappuzha - 2, Thrissur - 2, Palakkad - 2, Kozhikode - 1, Kasaragod - 4.
Explanation sought
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has sought an explanation from Kozhikode District Congress Committee president K.C. Abu on a complaint of violating the electoral code of conduct. The complaint related to Mr. Abu’s speech at Cheruvannoor on April 7, in which he had allegedly invoked communal feelings to solicit votes. Mr. Abu has been asked to furnish his explanation by 5 p.m. on April 23.
- Capital, Kottayam received maximum papers
No nominations filed in five districts
