Scrutiny of candidates who filed nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and bypolls to 18 Assembly constituencies started in Tamil Nadu today. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has said Expenditure Observers would be arriving in the State during the last process of filing nominations itself while the General Observers would arrive later. While only two expenditure observers will be deployed in 38 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu, the number will go up to three in Chennai Central seat, where two high profile candidates — former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran (DMK) and serial entrepreneur Sam Paul (PMK) — are in the fray.
In all, 79 observers will monitor election expenditure in the State. The Commission has appointed former IRS officer Madhu Mahajan of the 1982-batch as Special Expenditure Observer. The retired IRS official will take up overall supervision. A total of 76 expenditure observers have been appointed for 38 constituencies, making it two per Parliamentary seat. With Tuesday being the last day to file nominations, about 1,227 candidates including 1,089 men, have filed their papers for the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State.
According to CEO Satyabrata Sahoo, in addition, about 485 persons including 411 men filed their nominations for the by-election to 18 Assembly constituencies. Sahoo said the State police had identified 7,316 polling booths as ‘sensitive’ as well as ‘vulnerable’. The number of such booths may go up as by-elections to 18 Assembly constituencies are also being held along with the Lok Sabha elections.
In all, 79 observers will monitor election expenditure in the State. The Commission has appointed former IRS officer Madhu Mahajan of the 1982-batch as Special Expenditure Observer. The retired IRS official will take up overall supervision. A total of 76 expenditure observers have been appointed for 38 constituencies, making it two per Parliamentary seat. With Tuesday being the last day to file nominations, about 1,227 candidates including 1,089 men, have filed their papers for the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State.
According to CEO Satyabrata Sahoo, in addition, about 485 persons including 411 men filed their nominations for the by-election to 18 Assembly constituencies. Sahoo said the State police had identified 7,316 polling booths as ‘sensitive’ as well as ‘vulnerable’. The number of such booths may go up as by-elections to 18 Assembly constituencies are also being held along with the Lok Sabha elections.
