O Rajagopal files papers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP candidate in Neyyatinkara, O Rajagopal, filed his nomination papers for the June 2 bypoll on Wednesday morning. Twenty candidates were in the fray in Neyyatinkara when the time for filing papers ended at 3 p m on Wednesday. Rajagopal’s affidavit said that he has property worth Rs 13,89,945. Of this, bank deposits account for Rs 11,89,945. He had Rs 100 in his hand. Rajagopal filed his nomination papers before assistant returning officer and Peringadavila Block Development Officer S Sanoob.
Later, O Rajagopal told reporters that his campaign in Neyyatinkara was aimed at encouraging probity in Kerala politics. “The party fielded me in a modest attempt to take the flame of probity to the Kerala Assembly,” Rajagopal said. Eleven candidates filed their papers on Wednesday alone.
LDF’s F Lawrence would have to contend not just his UDF and BJP rivals, but with two more Lawrences - independents T Lawrence and L Lawrence, while UDF’s R Selvaraj has two ‘dupes’- T Selvaraj and Selvaraj, both independents.
BJP’s O Rajagopal is the oldest candidate in the fray at 83, and independent candidate Selvaraj is the youngest at 36.  There is only one woman in the fray - Laila Sundaresan, an independent candidate. Scrutiny of the affidavits would begin on Thursday.                       

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