REFUGEE

The Election Commission has accepted 42 nominations filed for the Dec 19 bypolls in Vandavasi and Tiruchendur assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, an official said Thursday.
In Vandavasi, the poll panel found 14 valid nominations of which eight are independents. In Tiruchendur, the number of candidates will be 28 of which 25 are without any party affiliation.

The two seats will mainly witness a three-cornered contest between the ruling DMK, the main opposition AIADMK and the DMDK.

The DMK is supported by the Congress, while the AIADMK has the support of the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the MDMK.

The PMK has asked its cadre to boycott the polls.