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Muthiah's nomination rejected

The nomination of former Union minister Sedapatti Muthiah, an ex-speaker of the Tamil Nadu assembly, was rejected during scrutiny Tuesday.

Expelled last year from the AIADMK, Muthiah, who had filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Sedapatti, stood disqualified following his conviction for 25 months in a case on disproportionate assets.

The returning officer of Sedapatti constituency, while rejecting his nomination, pointed out that the 1997 order by the Election Commission barred any candidate convicted for more than two years' punishement from contesting polls for six years.

Muthiah later said it was wrong on the part of the returning officer to reject his nominations.

''I will take legal steps against the rejection of my papers,'' he told reporters.

The nominations of his wife Sagunthala were under scrutiny.

Meanwhile, security arrangements were tightened throughout Tamil Nadu, particularly in the four constituencies where Jayalalitha filed her nomination papers for the May 10 assembly elections.

Besides the local police, Tamil Nadu Special Police, several companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, RPF and the Rapid Action Force had been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.

Police pickets have been posted in strategic locations and intensive patrolling is being carried out, police said.

The returning officer of the Krishnagiri constituency, M Mathivanan, who had received some threatening letters, had been provided security, police said.

Jayalalitha, who was camping in Ramanathapuram on Monday night is to proceed to Coimbatore Tuesday for campaigning.

Jayalalitha had filed her nomination papers in Krishnagiri and Andipatti, and on behalf of her, some party functionaries had filed papers in Bhuvanagiri and Pudukottai.

According to AIADMK sources, Jayalalitha's counsels have reached Krishnagiri and Andipatti.

Agencies

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