Candidates of the three major fronts locked in a keen triangular contest in the Palakkad Assembly constituency on Saturday as they filed their nominations for the April 9 Assembly election. The papers were submitted before Revenue Divisional Officer Anvar Sadath P.
Film and television personality Ramesh Pisharody is the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate, contesting against BJP State general secretary Sobha Surendran and Left Democratic Front (LDF)-backed Independent N.M.R. Razak.
Mr. Pisharody submitted his papers to the RDO after leading a procession on foot from the District Congress Committee (DCC) office, joined by a large contingent of UDF leaders and supporters.
Before setting out, Mr. Pisharody received the blessings of actor Mammootty via video call.
MPs V.K. Sreekandan and Shafi Parambil, Congress leaders C. Chandran, P.V. Rajesh, and C. Balan, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Kalladi Mohammed, and several UDF municipal councillors accompanied Mr. Pisharody.
Ms. Surendran, NDA candidate, filed her nomination after a march accompanied by a host of party leaders and municipal councillors, led by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Palakkad Municipal Chairperson P. Smithesh, BJP east district president Prasanth Sivan and several other leaders accompanied Ms. Surendran.
Vegetable traders of Palakkad’s main market contributed to Ms. Surendran’s electoral security deposit.
Mr. Razak, LDF’s Independent candidate, filed his nomination after a procession taken out from Government Victoria College to the RDO office.
LDF leaders T.K. Noushad, C.P. Pramod, K. Krishnankutty, Murali K. Tharekad and P. Sarin were among those who accompanied Mr. Razak.