Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate V. Velusamy, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) candidate D. Sivamuthukumar and four others filed their nominations with Collector and Returning Officer L. Subramanian here on Friday to contest in the Madurai Lok Sabha constituency.
Later Mr. Sivamuthukumar told reporters that he would strive to create an environment conducive for setting up industries in Madurai so that educated and uneducated youth could get jobs. G. Pandiarajan, area secretary of Vijaykanth Welfare Trust, also filed his nomination on behalf of the DMDK as dummy candidate.
Mr. Velusamy created a flutter by filing his papers minutes before the 3 p.m. deadline. He said the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government had failed to meet the expectations of people. Water scarcity, frequent power outages, rise in bus fare and prices of basic commodities had affected a large number of people. “When the Chief Minister travels to campaign venues by helicopter, how will she know the ground realities,” he wondered.
A. Dhavamani of Bahujan Samaj Party and two independent candidates, N. Alagumuthu Velayutham and M. Venkatesan, filed their nominations. So far 25 candidates have filed their papers to contest in Madurai constituency.