M A I N   N E W S

Jayalalitha files nomination
Filing of papers begins for May 10 poll

New Delhi, April 16
The filing of nominations opened today for the May 10 assembly polls in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, and Lok Sabha byelections in Midnapur, Tiruchirapalli and Sahjahanpur.

The state governors issued the notifications, setting in motion the process for the elections, dubbed by the opposition as a ‘referendum’ on the Tehelka expose.

The last date for filing of nominations is April 23. The scrutiny of nominations takes place on April 24. The last date for withdrawal is April 26.

The votes will be counted three days after the poll. The new assemblies will be constituted before May 18, according to the Election Commission (EC).

Assembly byelections will also be held on May 10 in Banamalipur (Tripura) and the next day in Kshetrigao (Manipur).

The term of the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly expires on May 21, the 140-member Kerala Assembly on May 28, the 294-member West Bengal Assembly and the 30-member Pondicherry Assembly on June 9, and the 126-member Assam Assembly on June 11. The model code of conduct has already come into force from April 1, with the announcement of the poll. The EC has asked the states to strictly enforce the model code of conduct to give a level-playing field to all political parties and candidates.

The EC has appointed 550 observers to ensure a smooth conduct of the elections.

The schedule for the byelections will be the same except in Kshetrigao, where scrutiny will be on April 25, the last date for withdrawal of nominations on April 27 and polling on May 11.

KRISHNAGIRI: Undeterred by the controversy over her eligibility to contest the May 10 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalitha on Monday filed her nomination from Krishnagiri constituency in Dharmapuri district. UNI