Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is contesting from RK Nagar in Chennai seeking a successive term. (PTI file photo)
Scrutiny of 7,136 nominations filed by candidates of various parties, including top leaders like AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, were today taken by election officials across Tamil Nadu for the May 16 Assembly polls.
As many as 7,136 persons had filed nominations, with 6,343 of them being men and 789 women. Four are from the third gender, according to Election Commission statistics.
Nominations to the 234 Assembly constituencies ended yesterday and the last date for withdrawal is May 2.
Polling will be held on May 16 and the votes taken up for counting on May 19 where the winners of a tough multi-cornered electoral fight will emerge.
While Ms Jayalalithaa is contesting from RK Nagar in Chennai seeking a successive term, Mr Karunanidhi is trying his luck from native Thiruvarur once again.
Other big names fighting the polls include DMDK founder Vijayakanth (Ulunthoorpet), PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss (Pennagaram) and Thol Thirumavalavan, the VCK founder who is contesting from Kattumannarkoil.