Barring the nomination filed by a Pattali Makkal Katchi nominee, papers filed by all recognised political parties, including the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Congress, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the May 16 Assembly election in the two districts were found valid when they were taken up for scrutiny on Saturday.
The nomination filed by PMK candidate A. Abdul Latheef to contest from Ramanathapuram Assembly constituency was rejected as it was not found in order. In all, 59 papers filed mostly by Independents in the four constituencies in Ramanathapuram district and 19 papers filed in the four constituencies in Sivaganga district were rejected by the Returning Officers.
After scrutiny, 71 papers in Ramanathapuram and 70 papers in Sivaganga district were found valid. A maximum number of 20 papers were rejected in Tiruvadanai constituency in Ramanathapuram district.
The Naam Tamilar Katchi filed an objection, demanding rejection of the papers filed by S. Karunas and Devanathan Yadav, stating that they should not contest on AIADMK’s two leaves and BJP’s Lotus symbols respectively, but the Returning Officer rejected the objection and found their papers valid.
Former DMK Minister P. R. Periakaruppan (Tirupattur), Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader and sitting MLA M. H. Jawhirullah (Ramanathapuram), former AIADMK MLA Karpagam Ilango (Karaikudi), AIADMK ally actor S. Karunas (Tiruvadanai), Congress leader S. Pandi (Mudukulathur) were among those left in the fray.
The final tally would be known on May 2 after the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
