PIL filed in Madras High Court

New Delhi, April 16: AMIDST questions over her eligibility, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha on Monday took the plunge filing her nominations from Krishnagiri as the formal process for the assembly elections in five states was set in motion.

The former chief minister’s filing of papers was the highlight of the opening day of nominations in Tamil nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Pondicherry.

Prominent among those who filed nominations today were UDF convenor Sankaranarayanan (Palakkad) in Kerala and expelled CPI(M) Leader Samir Pututunda in Jadavpore where West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya is likely to contest.

As crowds of her supporters thronged the revenue divisional officer’s office, Jayalalitha filed the papers before returning officer D Madhivanan who said he would take a decision on her candidature on April 24, the
day of scrutiny, based on the directions of the Election Commission, election laws and other procedures.

On her part, Jayalalitha, convicted in a corruption case and sentenced to more than two years’ imprisonment, declined to comment when asked how confident she was that she would be able to contest.

Meanwhile, a public interest litigation was filed in Madras high court for a direction to restrain the returning officers in Krishnagiri and Andipatti, where also she proposes to contest, from accepting her nomination papers.

In New Delhi, chief election commissioner MS Gill declined to comment on questions about the eligibility of Jayalalitha contesting the polls.

In West Bengal, seven Congress MLAs, who were denied party nomination under the poll alliance with Trinamool Congress, today switched over to NCP. (PTI)