Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Application Controversy in Tamil Nadu Elections

With the Assembly election in Tamil Nadu drawing closer, fresh questions have surfaced over the “applications for candidature” issued by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

According to party functionaries, the distribution of application forms began on February 6 and, within just two-and-a-half hours, as many as 50,000 forms were sold out. The rush at the party’s Palayur office was so intense that it reportedly led to heavy crowding and traffic congestion in and around the premises.

With the entire stock of forms exhausted rapidly, the sale was halted. Subsequently, February 20 was announced as the last date for submitting the completed applications that had already been issued.

However, a key question remains unanswered: of the 50,000 forms reportedly sold, how many were actually returned to the party?

So far, the party has not officially disclosed the number of completed applications received. Adding to the controversy are claims that while no additional details were shared at the time of issuing the forms, applicants were later informed that a fee of ₹10,000 had to be paid at the time of submission.

Sources indicate that in several constituencies, even 10 completed applications may not have been received. While the party has maintained that 50,000 forms were sold, internal estimates suggest that only around 4,000 applications may have been returned.

Opposition parties allege that if the actual number of returned applications is significantly low, it could have political ramifications. They claim that this may be the reason why the party leadership has so far refrained from releasing official figures on how many applications were ultimately submitted.