The Hindu : Front Page : Aspirants galore for party ticket

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 12, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Aspirants galore for party ticket

Special Correspondent

AIADMK has sold over 9,000 application forms, DMK nearly 4000 forms

— Photo: M. Vedhan

IN THE FRAY: Candidates from districts filing applications for AIADMK ticket at the party headquarters on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Before the Election Commission announces the schedule for Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, two major political parties , the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will complete the exercise of receiving applications from prospective candidates for all constituencies.

According to party functionaries in charge of selling the forms, the response has been "overwhelming" with aspirants queuing up before party offices to purchase the forms.

While the AIADMK has sold over 9,000 application forms, priced at Rs 10,000 each, the DMK has sold nearly 4,000 forms.

Though the cost of the form is only Rs. 100, candidates have to pay Rs. 5000. Women and those contesting from reserved constituencies will have to pay Rs. 2,500.

When Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and AIADMK general secretary inaugurated the sale of forms on February 1, State ministers and party office-bearers vied with one another to purchase them.

Many partymen, including senior leaders, filed applications on behalf of the Chief Minister.

700-800 applications sold

On an average, 700 to 800 applications are being sold daily at the AIADMK office and about 400 applications at the DMK office.

Several DMK cadres filed applications on behalf of their party leaders .Karunanidhi and deputy general secretary M.K.Stalin.

Both parties will stop sale of application forms on February 15.

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