Rajya Sabha election: DMK, AIADMK, Congress, PMK, and DMDK candidates 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 for the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (March 5, 2026).

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.

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).

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.

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.