As many as 110 independent candidates contested in 10 constituencies in Coimbatore district in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly election and secured a total of 43,977 votes out of the 23,45,276 votes polled, including 20,265 postal votes.

T.R. Shanmugasundaram, who was allegedly denied a ticket by the DMK in Mettupalayam constituency and contested as an independent candidate, is the topper in the category. He secured 26,756 votes and finished fourth.

DMK candidate Kavitha Kalyanasundaram, who secured 67,896 votes, was defeated by the fledgling TVK’s Sunilanand with a margin of 7,768 votes. Mr. Shanmugasundaram’s independent candidacy split DMK votes in the constituency, eventually leading to the party losing a potentially winnable seat to a newcomer.

Coimbatore South, which elected the DMK’s V. Senthilbalaji, had the highest number of independent candidates in the fray (24), followed by Singanallur (19) and Coimbatore North (18). The contest in Coimbatore South had also drawn attention as a total of 18 people from Mr. Senthilbalaji’s home turf of Karur had filed nominations as independent candidates, taking the total number of contestants to 31, the highest in the district.

Kinanthukadavu constituency had only five contestants in the fray, with no independent candidate. A total of 29 nominations that were rejected in the constituency included over 15 filed by independent candidates, including that of A. Noor Muhamad, who is known for filing nominations in most of the elections, arriving at the Returning Officer’s office in unique and fancy attire.

“It was a great opportunity to experience the election as a candidate in Coimbatore South where seasonal politicians like Senthilabalaji and Amman Arjunan contested. It was my first attempt. Several people appreciated my confidence and my family backed me,” said A. Imthiyas (37), a tourist guide from Marakkadai in Coimbatore, who bagged 65 votes as an independent candidate.