Stalin files jailed ex-minister's nomination for bypoll

Tiruchirappalli (TN), Sept 23: DMK Treasurer M K Stalin today (Sept 23) filed the nomination papers on behalf of jailed party colleague and former minister K N Nehru for the October 13 by-election to Tiruchi West Assembly Constituency.

Nehru, arrested recently on land grabbing charges, has been nominated by the DMK for the bypoll caused by the death of Minister Mariyam Pitchai.

The ruling AIADMK nominee M Paranjothi has already filed his nomination for the bypoll. Speaking to reporter after filing the papers, Stalin said Nehru's imprisonment would not affect his prospects of winning.

Nehru had lost to Pitchai in the April 13 Assembly polls which saw the AIADMK storming back to power with a landslide.

Stalin said DMK's campaign, in which his father and party President M Karunanidhi would also participate, would focus on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa''s ''autocratic'' rule, ''murder of democracy'' and the spate of ''false'' cases being filed against the DMK members.

Nehru in his mandatory declaration filed along with the nomination said he owned Rs 17.77 crore worth of assets and Rs 10.9 crore debt. He has movable assets worth Rs 2.73 crore and immovable assets Rs.15.04 crore.

Stalin alleged that officials in the Central prison here were ''over strict and imposed too many restrictions'' on DMK men lodged in connection with land grabbing and other cases. He said the DMK would face the "false cases filed against former ministers and others legally."

PTI