Thanjavur: Following the high command’s diktat, the AIADMK candidates, including Mayor Savithri Gopal, filed their nominations en masse for local body polls at the City Corporation office in Thanjavur today.

Out of the total 51 AIADMK candidates, 45 candidates turned up and filed their nomination papers today.

The DMK urban district secretary and sitting councillor (representing ward 16 ), T.K.G. Neelamegam, filed his nomination papers as independent candidate, as today was his birthday. It may be noted that the party is yet to announce its candidates.

In the 51-ward corporation council, the AIADMK had 34 councilors including 12 women. The DMK had 15 members including six women and CPI (M) had a lone woman councilor.

The AIADMK has now fielded 51 candidates including 26 women, reserving 50 per cent of the total seats to women. Only 18 sitting councilors, including Savithri Gopal, Saravanan and Boopathy, have been given tickets to contest again.

After garlanding the Anna statue near the old bus stand, the AIADMK candidates came in a procession to the Corporation office and filed their nominations one after other with the Corporation Commissioner, M. Varadarajan, much to the cheers of the party cadres who had gathered there.

Soon after filing her papers, Mayor Savithri Gopal expressed confidence that all the 51 AIADMK candidates would emerge victorious. “We will dedicate our victory at the golden feet of Amma”, she said.