Nominations fall on 'inauspicious' Tuesday

Thiruvananthapuram: After the heavy rush of candidates on Monday to file nomination papers, Tuesday was a lean day for returning officers as the day was deemed inauspicious by astrologers. Tuesday coincided with the day of Triketta nakshatram (star). “The Trikketta star is not advisable for good initiatives like marriage, housewarming or any other ceremony, including filing of nomination papers for elections,“ tantric scholar Kattumadom Anil Namboothiripad said.
Only 83 nominations were filed across the state on Tuesday , roughly one-third of that filed on Monday, that too mostly by dummy candidates.The most number of nominations were filed in Malappuram ­ 24.On Monday , the day of the auspicious Anizham star, 271 candidates had filed their nomination papers.
Anil said the last day for filing nominations would most likely see the highest number of candidates queuing up for the same.
“The reason is because April 29, the last day, falls on Uthradam star also an auspicious day. Wednesday (Moolam star) and Thursday (Pooradam star) are also not advisable,“ he said.
Besides the star, candidates also check the most auspicious time in the day to file their nomination papers.On Friday, when two wellknown names from the Congress and BJP ­ contesting in the same constituency filed their nominations, both preferred to do so at 12.30pm.
Since both of them couldn't file the nomination at the same time before the same official, one chose to file it before the returning officer, while the other chose the assistant returning officer. “I had filed my nomination on Friday during `rahukalam' which many consider inauspicious. But I did not bother because I know that `rahu kalam' is considered when one sets out for a journey and not for such things. Though many suggested that April 29 is the best day as per the star, I decided not to wait till the last day because if any technical issue arises, I will not have time to rectify it and resubmit the nomination,“ said BJP candidate in Kazhakkoottam, V Muraleedharan.
Election officials said favourable stars and time have always influenced candidates.“Though they may not be staunch believers in time or date, 99% of the candidates do not prefer to take a chance by filing their nominations on an inauspicious date or time, irrespective of their party or ideology ,“ said a senior official.