Chennai: Llyods road here wore a festive look on Wednesday with AIADMK functionaries thronging the party headquarters to file their applications seeking tickets to contest the Assembly elections.
According to party sources, so far more than 22,500 applications have poured in for all the 234 constituencies fetching a staggering Rs 22 crore for the party. The sale of forms that started on January 20 never lost steam.
When asked, whether this is an all time high collection, a party worker in the application counter said it can be ascertained only on Saturday, which is the last day for submitting forms. At least more than 1,000 forms could have easily come proposing the name of the Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to contest in several constituencies in Chennai and other districts.
“Most of us are not aspirants, I started filing my first party application in 1980. I still file applications. Like me, there are thousands of party workers. We are aware that the money goes to the party”, says a three-time councillor Sukumar Babu of Anna Nagar who filed his application.
“We file applications at the time of elections, whether it is for Mayor, MP or MLA elections. Amma will decide the ideal candidate and others will follow the diktat and work for the success of AIADMK candidate,” he adds.
Another party old-timer Poonga Nagar Selvam, who has filed nominations for Harbour constituency, recalled his first application in 1984. “In the past 30 years, I have filed applications 12 times. The concept is to be part of the election process and when you file an application it gives an elated spirit and unlike the DMK, no district secretaries intervene in the filing process. Whether we get a seat or not, it’s a practice,” he says. .
Meanwhile, following the good response, AIADMK headquarters also extended time for party workers to submit their applications for next three days. A statement from party supremo Jayalalithaa said party functionaries have sought extension of time to submit their forms. Subsequently, party workers can now submit forms till February 6, the statement said. The AIADMK has fixed Rs 11,000 as the application fee.
