Rajya Sabha election: DMK, AIADMK, Congress, PMK, DMDK candidates from Tamil Nadu file nominations

DMK’s Tiruchi Siva and J. Constandine Ravindran, AIADMK’s M. Thambi Durai, PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss, Congress’ M. Christopher Tilak, and DMDK’s L.K. Sudhish were among those who filed their nominations from Tamil Nadu for the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha, on Thursday (March 5, 2026).

The election to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 States will be held on March 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The States where the seats are falling vacant in April are Maharashtra (seven), Tamil Nadu (six), West Bengal (five), Bihar (five), Odisha (four), Assam (three), Telangana (two), Chhattisgarh (two), Haryana (two), and Himachal Pradesh (one). The votes will be counted from 5 p.m. the same day.

On Thursday, the candidates submitted their nomination papers to the designated Returning Officer at the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat in Chennai.

While Mr. Siva filed his papers in the presence of DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, DMK leader T.R. Baalu, CPI(M) leader P. Shanmugam and VCK leader S.S. Balaji, Mr. Ravindran filed his nomination in the presence of Mr. Stalin, DMK leader K. Pitchandi, CPI leader M. Veerapandian, and MDMK leader Durai Vaiko.

Tiruchi Siva files his nomination in the presence of CM Stalin
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Mr. Thambi Durai submitted his nomination papers in the presence of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and senior leaders Dindigul C. Sreenivasan and S.P. Velumani. When Mr. Anbumani filed his papers, he was accompanied by AIADMK leaders K.P. Munusamy, Natham R. Viswanathan, and P. Thangamani.

Mr. Thambi Durai is former Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, while Mr. Anbumani is a former Union Minister. The AIADMK on Wednesday (March 4) announced Mr. Thambi Durai’s candidature and allotted a seat to the PMK, its ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Anbumani Ramadoss submits his nomination papers
| Photo Credit:
R. Ragu

Mr. Tilak filed his nomination papers in the presence of Mr. Stalin, Congress leaders Girish Chodankar and K. Selvaperunthagai, and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) leader M.H. Jawahirullah.

Mr. Sudhish filed his nomination papers in the presence of Mr. Stalin, DMK leader A. Raja, DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant, and Congress leader S. Rajesh Kumar.

L.K. Sudhish files his nomination in the presence of M.K. Stalin and DMDK’s Premallatha Vijayakant
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Later in the day, Mr. Stalin said in a social media post that the candidates from the DMK alliance would be “the voices in the Rajya Sabha that protect the democracy.” “Let’s work to protect the Constitutional ideals and unity and diversity of India,” he said.

The DMK on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) named Mr. Siva and Mr. Ravindran as its candidates and allotted one seat each to the Congress and the DMDK, both of whom are in the alliance headed by the DMK in Tamil Nadu.

On Thursday morning, the Congress named Mr. Tilak as its candidate, while the DMDK named Mr. Sudhish as its nominee.

On February 16, the Election Commission had issued the notification for the biennial election from Tamil Nadu to six seats in the Rajya Sabha, as the tenure of the six sitting members will expire on April 2. March 5 is the last date for the filing of nominations.

Notice of withdrawal of candidature, if any, could be made before 3 p.m. on March 9. In the event of the election being contested, polling will be held between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on March 16.