The process of finalizing candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is in its final stage, with the last date for withdrawal of nominations set for Thursday. Polling for the Assembly elections is scheduled for April 23. The filing of nomination papers began on March 30 and ended on April 6, spanning four working days due to intervening holidays.
As the deadline neared, there was a notable increase in the number of nominations, indicating heightened political activity in the state. Data from the Election Commission revealed a significant rise in nominations each day, with a total of 7,599 nomination papers submitted on the final day.
Following scrutiny by Returning Officers, 5,081 nominations were deemed valid, while 2,480 were rejected for various reasons. Additionally, 38 candidates withdrew their nominations post the scrutiny process. Thursday serves as the final opportunity for candidates to withdraw their nominations, with the window open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Once the withdrawal process concludes, the Election Commission will release the final list of contesting candidates later in the day, crucial for the upcoming election preparations. Based on this list, ballot papers containing candidate names, symbols, and photographs will be printed for use in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Efforts are underway to ensure the timely completion of this process as political parties gear up for intensified campaign activities across Tamil Nadu in the lead-up to polling day, anticipating a closely watched electoral contest.
