Tamil Nadu election 2026: TVK leader Sengottaiyan’s nomination accepted after being kept on hold

The nomination filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate K.A. Sengottaiyan from the Gobichettipalayam Assembly constituency for the April 23 election in Tamil Nadu, was initially put on hold during scrutiny on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) morning, but was accepted by Returning Officer S. Sivanandham in the evening.

A total of 44 nominations were filed in the constituency, and scrutiny commenced on Tuesday. When Mr. Sengottaiyan’s papers were taken up, agents of AIADMK candidate V.B. Prabhu raised objections, pointing to alleged discrepancies in the affidavit.

They contended the notary public’s licence cited in the affidavit had expired and Mr. Sengottaiyan (former AIADMK Minister), had failed to disclose details of a house under construction. Senior advocate Dhanasekar, appearing for the AIADMK, submitted a written objection seeking rejection of the nomination.

The Returning Officer, who is also the Sub-Collector, sought clarification from the candidate’s agents and kept the nomination pending till 5 p.m.

As news of the objection spread, more than 200 TVK cadres gathered in front of the Returning Officer’s office in Gobichettipalayam and raised slogans against AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

The office of the Returning Officer for Gobichettipalayam Assembly constituency where scrutiny of nominations was carried out in Erode district on April 7, 2026
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Special Arrangement

At 5 p.m., TVK agents submitted the required documents and offered explanation. AIADMK agents sought access to the documents, but the Returning Officer informed them the clarifications had been sought from the candidate and duly submitted, and there was no requirement to share the documents with them. After examining the submissions, the Returning Officer at 5.30 p.m. announced the acceptance of Mr. Sengottaiyan’s nomination.

TVK cadres outside the office hailed their party president Vijay and Mr. Sengottaiyan, raising slogans that “Gobichettipalayam is our stronghold,” before dispersing.