The six who were dropped are M. Anandan (Villupuram), O.S. Manian (Mayiladuthurai), C. Rajendran (Chennai South), S. Semmalai (Salem), C. Sivasami (Tiruppur) and K. Sugumar (Pollachi).
Two of the sitting MPs - Rajendran and Sugumar - had figured in the Cobrapost expose that showed 11 members of parliament (MP) willing to give recommendation letters to a fictitious oil firm for a price.
Out of the 40 candidates, 15 have a law degree and four are medical doctors.
Jayalalithaa, who turned 66 Monday, also announced that she would start her first phase whirlwind election campaign programme March 3 and wind up April 5. She would address meetings at 19 constituencies during that period.
