Chennai, April 6 AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, BJP leaders L Murugan, Tamilisai Soundararajan, Vanathi Srinivasan, and DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth were among the prominent personalities who filed their nomination papers on Monday, the last date for filing nominations for the April 23 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu.
Over 7,000 candidates, including a large number of independents, have filed their nomination papers so far from the 234 constituencies across the state.
The candidates belonging to the BJP and Congress, whose names were announced by the respective parties late last week, also rushed to the offices of the returning officers and filed their papers, a process that had commenced on March 30.
After scrutiny on April 7, and withdrawal, if any, on April 9, the final list of candidates will be announced by the EC.
While polling is scheduled for April 23, the counting of votes will be taken up on May 4.
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, who was to contest from the Kattumannarkoil reserved constituency, withdrew from the race and claimed that his decision was aimed at maintaining the cohesion of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
He nominated Jothimani, son of a Dalit leader, L Illayaperumal, from this constituency.
Kamal Haasan too earlier announced that his Makkal Needhi Maiam party would not contest the poll but would extend support to the DMK-led alliance.
Expelled AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and R Vaithialingam, who joined the ruling DMK, were fielded on behalf of the DMK from Bodinayakanur and Orathanadu constituencies from where they filed the nomination, respectively, today.
DMK Ministers P K Sekar Babu and P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan filed their papers from the Harbour constituency in Chennai and Madurai Central seat, respectively.
Congress leader S Vijayadharani, who had joined the BJP, filed her papers from Vilavancode constituency in Kanyakumari district.
Former DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji submitted his papers from Coimbatore South, where the BJP had won in the 2021 election.
BJP state chief Nainar Nagenthran also filed his nomination from the Sattur Assembly constituency in Virudhunagar district.
Union Minister L Murugan, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, filed his papers seeking election from the Avanasi (SC), while another BJP leader and former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan submitted her papers from the Mylapore Assembly constituency in Chennai.
The AIADMK general secretary, who is a former Chief Minister, filed his papers from his native Edappadi Assembly constituency in Salem district, from where he won five times in the past.
BJP Mahila Morcha chief Vanathi Srinivasan, accompanied by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and BJP former state president K Annamalai, submitted her papers from Coimbatore North. She represents Coimbatore South in the outgoing Assembly.
The other prominent personalities who filed their papers today include state Water Resources Minister and senior DMK general secretary Duraimurugan from Katpadi in Vellore district, DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth from Vriddhachalam in Cuddalore district, Sowmya Anbumani, wife of PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, from Dharmapuri, and Leema Rose, wife of "lottery baron" Santiago Martin, from Lalgudi in Tiruchirappalli.
Film director Seema-led Naam Tamilar Katchi party members have already filed their papers from all the 234 constituencies.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, his deputy CM son Udhayanidhi, actor-politician Vijay heading the TVK, Seeman, and several other leaders had filed their papers last week.