Chennai: The election mood in the state attained a new high on Wednesday with the Election Commission releasing the final list of Tamil Nadu candidates in the fray for the April 24 Lok Sabha polls and allocating 85 symbols for aspiring independents.
A communication from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said the last day of withdrawal of nominations for the general elections to Lok Sabha 2014 and by-election to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly constituency of Alandur was over by 3 pm on April 9. Of the total number of 906 valid nominations, 61 candidates withdrew their nominations.
Finally, 845 candidates (789 male, 55 female, 1 other) are in the fray.
Of the total number of 14 valid nominations for the Alandur constituency, no candidate withdrew. Finally, 14 candidates (12 male, two female) are in the fray.
To know about their candidate, voters can log on to the website, www.elections.tn.gov.in/loksabha2014.htm.
Earlier in the day, CEO Praveen Kumar said that 42 counting centres would come up for the polls and the use of cellphones were banned inside counting centres.
Even district collectors will not be able to carry cellphones inside the counting centres, but poll observers may do so in restricted zones, he said.
There are a few star campaigners in the state who are yet to obtain permission from the Election Commission of India.
In such cases, the candidate who benefits from such campaigners should furnish the expense details.
Failing to furnish the expenses of star campaigners would also lead to a poll violation, the CEO said, adding that a meeting of poll observers will be held on Thursday.
