Chennai: A record number of more than 3,000 nominations were filed on Friday, the last day for filing nominations making the total number of nominations cross 6,800 mark, till reports came in. Poll officials attributed that the nominations had surged in 2016, due to multi corner contest.
In several constituencies, the candidates of the ruling AIADMK and its archrival DMK have filed more than two nominations fearing that if the first one was rejected on technical reasons or due to poll norms, the other spare nomination can be taken in to consideration. Similarly the number of dummy candidates from regional and national political parties had pushed the nomination analytical to a recent high.
However, only after the scrutiny of nominations and the withdrawal of papers on May 2, the number of candidates in fray can be finalised. Earlier in the day, chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni released the supplementary electoral rolls.
To a query on poll surveys by media houses the CEO said that the exit polls should be published only after the polling time.
In case of surveys and opinions, they are banned during the 48 hours ahead of polling schedule, the CEO said. Chennai district with 16 assembly constituencies had the maximum number of nominations with 516 aspirants submitting papers followed by Coimbatore and Madurai recording close to 300 poll affidavit submissions.
