An independent candidate, Noor Mohammed (63) had come to file his nomination papers wearing a garland of slippers. This is his 41st election. Noor Mohammad, said "he wore a garland of slippers to make people realize that he would work tirelessly for the people as a slipper"
Erode: The filing of nominations for the Erode East by-election began yesterday.
On the very first day of the much-anticipated by-election, many filed their nominations in a different and unique manner.
Elections and by-elections are known for fiery campaigns and heated debates among political leaders.
From time to time, there are some surprises and interesting things that happen in such hotly contested elections and the Erode by-election slated for February 27 is no exception.
In particular, the filing of nominations by many independent candidates attracted the attention of many.
For example, Padmarajn, an independent, is filing nomination for 233rd time.On the first day of filing of nominations, election king Padmarajan (65) filed his nomination papers. The returning officer Sivakumar received the nomination papers from him. This is the 233rd election for Padmarajan, the election king from Mettur in Salem district.
Padmarajan said "he was contesting elections with the aim of creating a Guinness world record".
Ramesh(42), a Gandhian, came to the election office to file his nomination papers putting on makeup like Mahatma Gandhi. To pay the election deposit amount, he had brought 10,000 in small coins. This is his 10th election. Hailing from Namakkal district, he is a yoga practitioner. Gandhian Ramesh said he would contest the elections to convey Gandhi's ideology to the public.
Another candidate, Sankarapandian (38), a social activist from Sellur in Madurai. He is the founder of the Water Resources Conservation and People's Welfare Movement.
He is in the tiles contract business and he filed a petition with dummy currency notes in his hand and an angling rod . This is the third election in which he is contesting as an independent.
Yet another candidate, Noor Mohammad, who came wearing a garland of slippers and filed his nomination papers.
Noor Mohammed (63) hails from Sundarapuram in Coimbatore. He had come to file his nomination papers wearing a garland of slippers. This is his 41st election. Noor Mohammad, said "he wore a garland of slippers to make people realise that he would work tirelessly as a slipper". He works as an old car dealer.
Then came Rajendran (61), a native of Uraiyur in Trichy.
He retired as a driver in the State Transport Corporation. He paid the deposit money for Rs 10,000 in 10 rupees coins. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that Rs. 10 coins will be valid.
“Moreover, a separate syllabus should be devised for politicians to contest in polls” Rajendran said He had earlier contested in Srirangam and from where Former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa contested and in R.K.Nagar.
Mariyappan (53), a native of Andipatti in Madurai, and his wife Ilaiyarani (45) are married to P.A. His daughter Sathya (24), who is a B.Ed. student, had come to file her nomination papers with his family.
An independent candidate who walked backwards and filed his nomination papers raised the eyebrows of many.
The man, who hails from Jolarpettai Agraharam in Tirupattur district, owns a photo studio. He had been walking backwards since June 14, 1991, to press for world peace. So far, he had walked back hundreds of thousands of kilometres for 32 years.
He has contested 7 times in the Presidential elections and faced 39 elections for MP and MLA. This is his 40th election.
"I will walk forward from the moment I become president," the independent candidate said.
On the very first and second day of the filing of nominations for the Erode East assembly by-election, many dramatic moments unfolded to the surprise of many.