Chandy, Chennithala file nominations

A total of 1647 candidates, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, have filed their nominations for 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala for the May 16 assembly polls.
Besides Chandy, his cabinet colleagues-- Ramesh Chennithala, K Babu and former union minister and BJP leader, O Rajagopal were among those who filed their nominations on the last day today, officials said.
Chandy, who is contesting from Puthupally, has represented the constituency in 10 consecutive terms in the assembly, and is once again trying his luck from the segment in the Central Travancore district of Kottayam.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who is seeking re-election from Haripad, Excise Minister K Babu, who is seeking re-election from Tripunithura for the sixth time in a row, and veteran BJP leader, O Rajagopal (Nemom) are among the candidates who filed their nomination papers.

93-year-old CPI(M) veteran, V S Achuthanandan, CPI-M politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan are among the candidates who are in the fray.
Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held tomorrow and the last date for withdrawal is May 2.