Kanimozhi files nomination papers for RS polls

Chennai, June 1 (UNI) Three candidates, including Ms Kanimozhi, the poet-daughter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi, today filed their nomination papers for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill up six seats.

Besides Ms Kanimozhi, who formally makes her political debut, the other DMK nominee 'Trichy' N Siva and CPI National Secretary D Raja filed their papers before State Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta, the Returning Officer for the poll, at the conference hall of the Secretariat.

A host of DMK leaders, including Union Minister T R Baalu, State Ministers Arcot N Veerasamy, M K Stalin, Duraimurugan and E V Velu, PMK President G K Mani and CPI leader R Nallakannu were present when Ms Kanimozhi filed her papers.

Earlier, Ms Kanimozhi and Mr Siva sought the blessings of the Chief Minister and garlanded the statue of DMK Founder C N Annadurai at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters, before leaving for the Secretariat to file the papers.

In a brief chat with newspersons after filing her papers, Ms Kanimozhi said she would keep up her promises made in the literary fora and fulfill the aspirations of the party leadership.

The two candidates of the Opposition AIADMK, V Maitreyan and A Ilavarasan, and an indpendent Dr Padmarajan had already filed their papers.

Of the six seats, the DMK would contest two seats. Its ally, the Congress and the CPI, would contest one seat each and the AIADMK the remaining two. The DMK had decided against fielding a fifth candidate and avoided a contest to prevent horse trading.

UNI