Lok Sabha polls | Over 400 nominations received from candidates across T.N.

Prominent candidates file nominations for Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, with dramatic events and heart-warming scenes.

Prominent candidates of national and regional political parties filed their nominations for the April 19 Lok Sabha poll in their respective constituencies on Monday. While dramatic events unfolded leading to tense moments in some places, there were heart-warming scenes also in a few constituencies.

BJP leader and Union Minister of State L. Murugan (The Nilgiris), former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan (Chennai South) and former Union Minister of State Pon. Radhakrishnan (Kanniyakumari), DMK treasurer and former Union Minister T.R. Baalu (Sriperumbudur) and CPI (M)‘s Su. Venkatesan (Madurai) were among the prominent candidates, who filed their nominations. Expelled AIADMK leader and former CM O. Panneerselvam filed his papers in Ramanathapuram.

In Udhagamandalam, police used force to disperse AIADMK and BJP cadres, as tension flared between them over the filing of nomination papers. Mr. Murugan along with BJP State president K. Annamalai arrived for filing the former’s nomination, when the AIADMK cadre raised slogans demanding that their candidate be allowed to file as Mr. Murugan and his supporters came late. The two leaders along with their supporters staged a protest and dispersed after senior police officers intervened.

The Returning Officer (RO) for Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency Katta Ravi Teja found himself in a tight spot, as both AIADMK and DMK candidates accompanied by their parties’ senior functionaries entered his office almost at the same time and insisted that they be allowed to submit their papers first. Protesting outside was the BJP candidate, who was struggling to find his way inside the packed hall.

A meeting of BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and sitting DMK South Chennai MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian outside the RO office, of course, won the hearts of not only those present around them but also the social media. Both of them not only exchanged pleasantries but also embraced and held hands to share a few words.

So was the mood in Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency, where actor and BJP nominee Radikaa Sarathkumar and her husband Sarathkumar greeted and shook hands with late actor Vijayakant’s son and DMDK candidate Vijaya Prabhakaran, when they crossed paths.

PMK candidate Sowmiya Ramadoss accompanied by her husband and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss filed her nomination for the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha seat. VCK general secretary and sitting Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar filed his papers for the same seat accompanied by DMK leader and Minister K. Ponmudy.