Setting the election fervour in motion, independent and NTK candidates shot into prominence by arriving in bullock carts, holding ploughs and carrying earthen pots on Monday, to file their nominations for the April 23 assembly election.NTK candidate for Singanallur assembly constituency G Nehruji arrived in a bullock cart procession from ESI Government Medical Collge Hospital near Singanallur to the Corporation East Zone office to file his nomination. On arriving in bullock cart for filing nomination, Nehruji said, “Without farmers, there is no organism. We give more importance to farmers as our party symbol is farming.” In a bid to spook election officials, NTK candidate for Coimbatore South constituency V Perarivalan brought his nomination deposit amount in Rs 10 coins. He said he brought the deposit amount in Rs 10 coins to indirectly attack his DMK rival V Senthil Balaji for ‘collecting’ Rs 10 extra for each bottle at Tasmac outlets. “It’s an open challenge to Senthil Balaji that if he secures at least one vote more than me without providing any gift hampers, freebies or cash for votes, then I shall join the DMK,” he dared. Independent candidate Noor Mohammed had a different story to tell for carrying an earthen pot in his hand and a turban around his head while arriving to file his nomination for Thondamuthur constituency at Perur taluk office straight from the Perur graveyard. “Selling your vote is like performing your own final rites.” He also broke the mud pot, as is done during final rites. “I am filing my nomination not only to secure votes and win the election, but also to spread awareness among voters. People should never sell their votes.” He had contested 48 elections since 1997. In the 2024 parliamentary election, he secured nearly 4,000 votes in the Pollachi constituency. Independent candidate Ramesh Gandhi arrived on a bicycle with a toy gun in his hand and a CCTV camera woven around his head. Dressed in a khadi dhoti like Mahatma Gandhi, Ramesh submitted his nomination for the Namakkal assembly constituency on behalf of his Ahimsa Socialist Party. NTK candidates S Banupriya and Rajabu Nisha carried a plough in their hands and filed their nominations for the Kinathukadvu and Thondamuthur constituencies, respectively.
