Rajya Sabha election: AIADMK’s M. Thambi Durai and PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss file nominations

AIADMK’s M. Thambi Durai and Pattali Makkal Katchi’s (PMK) Anbumani Ramadoss were among those who filed their nominations for the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (March 5, 2026). They submitted their nomination papers to the designated Returning Officer at the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat in Chennai.

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. Mr. Anbumani filed his papers in the presence of 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).

The DMK had on Wednesday named Tiruchi Siva and J. Constandine 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 M. Christopher Tilak as its candidate, while the DMDK named L.K. Sudhish as its nominee. The candidates from the DMK, the Congress, and the DMDK are expected to file their nomination papers by this evening.

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.