Kanimozhi files nomination for Rajya Sabha polls

Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK chief M Karunanidhi and one of the accused in the 2g scam, has been renominated by her party for the June 27 Rajya Sabha elections. The DMK hopes to garner support from other parties to ensure a second term for her. The term for six seats from Tamil Nadu for the upper house ends next month of which one of the nominees is Kanimozhi. The AIADMK is fielding candidates for the remaining 5 seats. Party sources said Ms. Kanimozhi, accompanied by her brother and former Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and senior political leaders, filed her nomination papers after seeking the blessings of her father. The DMK patriarch Mr. Karunanidhi had stated on June 13 that the party would consult other political parties on fielding a candidate for the RS polls. The party's decision also comes a day after Union Minister and senior Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan met Mr. Karunanidhi at his residence. The party had snapped its ties with UPA over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue in March last. Each candidate needs 34 first preference votes to win in the polls. DMK, with 23 MLAs in the 234 member assembly, has to muster support of other parties to ensure 34 first preference votes for it's candidates victory. Congress has five MLAs. The last date for filing of nominations is June 17. Scrutiny will be on June 18 and the last date for withdrawal is June 20.