CHENNAI: AIADMK candidate for the by-election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the State, A Navaneethakrishnan, on Monday declared `7.37 crore assets. The former TNPSC Chairman filed his nomination papers before A M P Jamaludeen, Returning Officer for the by-election, at the Secretariat. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and nine senior ministers proposed his nomination.
A few hours ahead of filing his papers, he got a key post in the AIADMK. Party chief Jayalalithaa appointed him as the secretary to the advocate wing. P H Manoj Pandian, MP, who had held the post so far, was relieved.
In his affidavit filed along with the nomination papers, Navaneethakrishnan declared liabilities amounting to `1.33 crore. Senior ministers, including Finance Minister O Panneerselvam were present when Navaneethakrishnan filed his papers. The by-election was necessitated by the disqualification of DMK MP T M Selvaganapathi following his conviction in the cremation shed scam by a special CBI Court in Chennai on April 17. Selvaganapathi’s term was to end on June 29, 2016. As such, Navaneethakrishnan, after he gets elected, will be the Rajya Sabha MP till that date. To elect an MP from Tamil Nadu, a political party needs the support of 34 MLAs in the Assembly and as now, no party other than the AIADMK has the required strength. So, Navaneethakrishnan’s election has become a foregone conclusion. The last date for filing nomination papers is June 23; scrutiny will happen the next day; and the last date for withdrawal of papers is June 26. If the need arises, polling will be held on July 3 and the results will also be announced on the same day.