The notification of the coming Lok Sabha elections is set to be announced today. It will also be the first day for the filing of nominations for candidature, which will go on till April 5. This one-week period is likely to see frenetic activity across the State, with 179 candidates of major parties and a number of other contenders set to file their nominations.
The filing of nominations would open in the morning, and continue till 3 pm on April 5. The nominations would come up for scrutiny on April 7, with April 9 being the last date for the withdrawal of nominations. Once this process is completed, the next landmark would be on April 22, when campaigning would be brought to a close.
The AIADMK has announced 40 candidates for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, while the DMK alliance too has come up with candidates’ names for all the seats. The Congress has announced candidates for 38 of the 40 seats. The Left has announced candidates for 18 constituencies. However, BJP-led front has announced 39 candidates for the 38 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry. The BJP is yet to announce candidates for two constituencies. All the alliances would together put forward 179 candidates, out of which four are to be named. Other notable announcements of candidature include two by the JD (S), and 18 by the AAP so far. The field can also be expected to be widened considerably with independents who will file their nominations.