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The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Thursday filed her nomination papers for the Andipatti assembly byelection at the Theni district collectorate.
She filed her papers to the backward class welfare officer Pulamadan, whose chambers had been converted into a high security zone with installation of closed circuit TV cameras.
The entire collectorate had been barricaded. Her vehicle was followed by hundreds of cars throughout the entire route from Madurai to Andipatti.
Hundreds of posters, flags, buntings decorated both sides of the road.
Later, talking to reporters at Theni, Jayalalithaa said she was contesting from Andipatti for fulfilling the needs of the people of the constituency.
"That is my objective and goal," she said.
Asked whether there will be realignment of political parties, she shot back "how can I say now?"
When her reaction was sought to some opposition parties demand for postponement of election in Andipatti, she said, "I have come here with the support of the people."
During the May 10, 2001 assembly polls, Jayalalithaa's nomination papers were rejected from Krishnagiri, Pudukottai, Bhuvanagiri on the grounds that she had been convicted and sentenced to more than two years in the TANSI case by a special court in Chennai.
However, on December 4 last, the Chennai high court acquitted Jayalalithaa in the TANSI land deal cases clearing the legal hurdle in her becoming chief minister.
On January 22, Supreme Court declined to stay the high court verdict in a revision petition filed by Janata Party President Dr Subramanian Swamy and others.
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