Around 13 candidates, including those belonging to the ruling All India N R Congress, Indian National Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Communist Party of India have filed nominations on Wednesday for the Thattanchavady bypoll scheduled to be held in Puducherry on October 6.

With Wednesday being the last day of filing nominations, the Puducherry Election Department has received a total of 15 applications from candidates for contesting the October 6 byelection.

Accompanied by Chief Minister and chairman of the National Democratic Alliance in Puducherry, N. Rangasamy and Home Minister A. Namassivayam, AINRC candidate Ashok Anand filed his nomination papers before Returning Officer Arjun Ramakrishnan at the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department office just minutes before the 3 p.m. deadline set by the Election Commission of India for filing of nominations on the last day.  

Before filing nomination, Mr. Anand went to the temple constructed by Mr. Rangasamy for his spiritual guru Appa Paithiyam at Gorimedu. Mr. Rangasamy after performing puja to the idol of Appa Paithiyam, proceeded to the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department office for accompanying the AINRC candidate to file his papers. 

The DMK candidate, Sethu Selvam, was accompanied by Member of Parliament and party’s coordinator for the Union Territory S. Jagathrakshakan and Opposition leader in Puducherry Assembly A.M.H. Nazeem for filing the nomination.

While the Congress candidate, E. Vinayagam, filed his nomination papers in the presence of Member of Parliament and Pradesh Congress Committee chief V. Vaithilingam and TVK legislator Sai J. Saravanan Kumar, CPI candidate A. M. Saleem’s filing of nomination papers witnessed a procession by Left party workers from Kokku Park.