On the final day of filing nominations for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, scheduled to be held on April 23, several candidates submitted their papers to Returning Officers in various constituencies in Chennai city on Monday (April 6, 2026).

Former Telangana Governor and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan filed her nomination papers at the Mylapore Taluk office. Union Minister Piyush Goyal, along with members of the BJP and AIADMK, accompanied her.

AIADMK Women’s Wing Secretary and former Minister B. Valarmathi also filed her nomination papers for the Thousand Lights Assembly constituency. Accompanied by party office-bearers, she submitted the documents to the Returning Officer at the Greater Chennai Corporation Zonal Office in Nungambakkam.

A two-time Minister who previously represented the constituency following the 2011 Assembly election, Ms. Valarmathi is confident she will reclaim this key urban seat. Speaking to The Hindu, she highlighted persistent civic grievances, including traffic congestion, the maintenance of the Buckingham Canal, and the poor state of interior roads. “Thousand Lights, particularly Nungambakkam, sits at the heart of the city and serves as a major transit hub. This leads to heavy congestion, and we will take steps to ease the traffic flow,” she said.

Congress candidate Aassan Maulaana filed his nomination for the Velachery Assembly constituency at the Adyar zonal office. The DMK, having allotted the seat to its ally Congress, has re-nominated Mr. Maulana, the sitting MLA, to contest. He will face M.K. Ashok of the AIADMK.

Meanwhile, Health Minister and DMK candidate Ma. Subramanian conducted door-to-door campaigns on Velachery High Road, Five-Furlong Road, and other areas of the Saidapet constituency.

Former Minister and AIADMK candidate for the Royapuram constituency, D. Jayakumar, also canvassed for votes in several streets in the segment from Monday morning.

DMK deputy general secretary and MP Kanimozhi campaigned for party candidates and allies in Maduravoyal, Ambattur, Red Hills, Thiruvottriyur, and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar.

‘Need for playgrounds’

Karthik Mohan, the DMK’s new face in the Villivakkam constituency, said that youngsters voiced the need for more playgrounds while campaigning in Villivakkam and Ayanavaram on Monday. “I will identify suitable government land and develop it into playgrounds after I am elected as the representative of this constituency,” said the 44-year-old, who serves as the DMK IT wing’s deputy secretary.