Pondicherry: 44 nominations filed for first phase

Pondicherry health minister E Valsaraj, Congress nominee A V Sreedharn and Malladi Krishna Rao are among the 44 who filed nominations for two constituencies in Mahe and the lone segment in Yanam (enclaves of Pondicherry in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh) as filing of nominations for the first phase of the May 3 polls ended on Wednesday.

Valsaraj filed his nomination from Mahe, Sreedharan (parliamentary secretary to the chief minister) from Paloor constituency in Mahe and Malladi Krishna Rao, an independent member in the outgoing assembly, from Yanam.

Malladi Krishna Rao has been holding the constituency consecutively since 1996. He filed his nomination as a Congress nominee this time as he joined the party on April 6.

A total of 12 candidates filed their nominations from Mahe, 11 from Paloor constituencey (in Mahe region) and 21 in Yanam region.

Scrutiny of nominations for Yanam region is scheduled for tomorrow and the last date for withdrawal of candidates there is April 15.

In Mahe, scrutiny of nominations is slated for April 15, as April 13 and 14 are public holidays in view of Vishu festival. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is April 17.