Despite being the hottest day this summer, tense moments were witnessed at offices of Returning Officers on Tuesday. By evening, the final numbers were out and candidates whose nominations were accepted, and their supporters continued their campaigning with great gusto.

A total of 628 nominations were filed in the 16 Assembly constituencies in Chennai, of which 462 were accepted. In Tiruvallur district, a total of 171 nominations were accepted and 167 were rejected in the 10 constituencies.

In Kancheepuram district, 75 nominations were accepted and 50 were rejected in the four constituencies. Chengalpattu district saw 238 nominations in the seven constituencies, of which, 130 were accepted.

AIADMK candidate M.K. Ashok who is contesting from the Velachery Assembly Constituency has been campaigning in various parts of the constituency, covering Besant Nagar, Adyar, and Thiruvanmiyur, since filing his nomination.

Mr. Ashok, who is contesting for the third time, had won the newly-created Velachery Assembly seat in 2011. However, in 2021, he lost the seat to the incumbent MLA Aassan Maulana of the Indian National Congress. The 2026 election field in Velachery is a repeat of the 2021 election where Ashok has been pitted Mr. Maulana.

Mr. Ashok, canvassing for votes in the west Velachery area on Wednesday, announced that the election promises made by AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami would be fulfilled.

The candidate, who has the ‘son of the soil’ tag against outsider Maulana, went on a walk in the A.G.S. Colony and M.G.R. Nagar, canvassing for votes, stating that he would take steps to prevent flooding by improving the stormwater drain facility. He also pointed out that the long-pending demand for renovating the Velachery lake would be taken up.

‘Looking for a change’

In Tiruvottiyur, Naam Tamilar Katchi candidate P. Sathya said, since people were looking for a change in governance, they welcomed her. “We tell people of our poll promises, including putting an end to the drug menace, ensuring jobs for locals and taking steps to protect the environment. Wherever we go, people listen to us and respond well,” she said. Her supporters, like in other political parties, have been distributing pamphlets with their party’s poll promises.

Kumar of the DMK in Sholinganallur constituency said, “We have to cover the entire constituency. In a few days the candidate will visit all the homes. I only visit homes that I know.”

In Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, Aadhi Rajaraman of the AIADMK who is taking on Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, said that he knew the problems of the constituency very well. Fishermen, who form a sizeable portion, have been badly affected by various schemes including the Blue Flag beach project. Their livelihoods are at stake. Conservancy workers and the Brahmin voters are all against the DMK, he said, adding that he will win the seat.