Chennai, April 16 (IANS) The Madras High Court dismissed a petition challenging BJP leader Nainar Nagendran’s nomination for the Tirunelveli Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu. The division bench refused to entertain the petition, citing its late submission close to the polling date on April 19.

The petition, filed by V. Maharajan, argued that Nagendran’s nomination was accepted without considering his representation against it. Maharajan claimed the BJP candidate had withheld crucial information, including a criminal case, in his nomination papers.

Maharajan also called for action against the returning officer for negligently accepting Nagendran’s nomination. However, the court ruled in favor of Nagendran, stating that the timing of the petition was inappropriate given the impending poll date.

The first bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala and Justice J. Sathya Narayana Prasad, deliberated on the matter on Tuesday before rejecting the petition. Despite Maharajan’s concerns, the court upheld Nagendran’s nomination for the Lok Sabha constituency.

A tragic incident has shaken the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge and Technologies (RGUKT) in Basar town of Telangana’s Nirmal district as a 17-year-old student, B. Arvind, allegedly died by suicide in the hostel on Tuesday, just days before the commencement of exams. The police have launched an investigation into the matter.

Hailing from Siddipet district, Arvind was a student of the Pre-University Course (PUC) second year at the institute known as IIIT Basar. This unfortunate event adds to the distressing trend of student suicides at the university, with several such incidents reported in recent years.

In February, a 17-year-old female student took her life in the hostel due to the inability to cope with the death of a relative. In 2023 alone, six students at IIIT Basar have died by suicide, highlighting a concerning pattern. The university has witnessed tragic events like a student ending his life due to homesickness and another student falling from the fourth floor under suspicious circumstances.

The alarming number of student suicides at IIIT Basar raises concerns about the mental well-being and support system available to students. The institute must address these issues promptly to prevent further tragic incidents from occurring on its campus. The authorities need to prioritize mental health support and create a safe environment for students.

Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat has become a center of attention with unexpected twists in the upcoming elections. Sreekala Reddy Singh, wife of former mafia don and MP Dhananjay Singh, will now compete on BSP’s symbol after her husband’s conviction in a kidnapping case. BJP’s Kripa Shankar Singh and SP’s Babu Singh Kushwaha were the main contenders until now.

Dhananjay Singh’s influence in Jaunpur could play a significant role as he had won in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. The Thakur vote might split between Dhananjay Singh and Kripa Shankar Singh. With Sreekala Reddy Singh’s entry, equations have been disrupted, adding an interesting element to the election dynamics.

In a constituency known for its ‘imarti’ sweet and Chameli oil, Jaunpur faces challenges of neglect and lack of employment opportunities. Sreekala Reddy Singh, asserting her connection to the constituency, states, “Jaunpur will contest the election for me. I am their daughter-in-law and will do as the people of this constituency say.”

While Kripa Shankar Singh expresses confidence in BJP’s performance under PM Modi and CM Yogi, Babu Singh Kushwaha is relying on the support of OBCs, especially the Nishad votes in the region. The election in Jaunpur, scheduled for the sixth phase on May 25, is expected to be a closely watched contest with shifting political equations in play.