The nominations of 34 candidates, including that of BJP nominee M. Subramaniam, for the Srirangam by-election were accepted after scrutiny on Wednesday.
Returning Officer (RO) V. Manoharan, who scrutinised the nomination papers, rejected the objections raised against the nomination of Mr. Subramaniam.
Soon after the scrutiny began in the presence of General Observer Balkar Singh, Gangai Selvan, a lawyer representing the AIADMK candidate, raised objections and called for the rejection of Mr. Subramaniam’s nomination on the ground that he had failed to furnish details of pending cases against him in the affidavit.
However, Mr. Subramaniam and his lawyer, A. Kumara Guru, countered the complaint, saying there was no need to furnish information pertaining to any case if charges against the candidate had not been framed in the respective court.
But Mr. Selvan reiterated that the BJP candidate should have provided details of the First Information Report (FIR) in the affidavit. Since both the camps argued in a vociferous manner, the RO said a decision would be announced in the afternoon after verifying the rules pertaining to the issue.
The RO later declared that Mr.Subramaniam’s nomination was accepted and it was in order.
However, citing the objection raised by the AIADMK and R.C. Babu, president of the Tiruchi District Congress Committee (south), Mr. Manoharan said if the aggrieved persons felt that Mr. Subramaniam had concealed any fact in the affidavit they could approach the court to seek remedy. Mr. Manoharan said 12 nominations were rejected for various reasons. Earlier, the nominations of S. Valarmathi (AIADMK), N. Anand (DMK) and K. Annadurai (CPI (M) were accepted.
