Tamil Nadu assembly election 2026: Over 55% nomination papers rejected in Coimbatore district

Coimbatore: More than 55% of the nomination papers filed by candidates in 10 constituencies of Coimbatore district for the April 23 assembly election were rejected during scrutiny on Tuesday.A total of 450 nominations, including those of major party candidates and independents, were filed between March 30 and April 6, the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny was conducted by the respective returning officers in the presence of candidates' agents. After the exercise, 201 nominations were accepted and 249 were rejected. While 48 nominations were filed in Mettupalayam, only 24 were accepted. In Sulur, 17 out of 32 nominations were accepted. In Kavundampalayam, 33 nominations were filed and 17 accepted. Coimbatore North received 49 nominations and 29 accepted. In Thondamuthur, 77 nominations were filed, but only 22 were accepted. In Coimbatore South, 38 out of 61 nominations were accepted. In Singanallur, 61 candidates filed nominations and 38 were accepted. In Kinathukadavu, only five out of 43 nominations were accepted. In Pollachi, 14 out of 34 nominations were accepted. In Valparai, 29 nominations were filed and six accepted. In Thondamuthur, independent candidate Dalit S Jayaraj staged a protest on Siruvani Road near the returning officer's office, condemning the rejection of his nomination papers. His nomination was rejected as some columns had not been filled in. Nazer Ahmed, who filed his nomination as an independent candidate from the Kavundampalayam constituency, submitted a petition to the district collector after his nomination was rejected by the returning officer. He said the officer rejected his papers on the grounds that he had mentioned a family dispute case that had already been resolved. He alleged that many candidates with criminal cases had their nominations accepted, while his was rejected without a valid reason.