On the instructions of the DMK government, Tamil Nadu police have booked K Annamalai, the BJP candidate for the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat, alleging that he campaigned after 10 pm, a violation of the poll code. Annamalai, a former police officer and president of the TN BJP, vehemently denied any wrongdoing, accusing the government of misusing the law for political gain.
Annamalai stated that he diligently followed the Election Commission’s guidelines, including refraining from using loudspeakers after 10 pm. He clarified that he had completed his pre-approved campaign yatra for the day on April 12th and denied canvassing votes after the designated time.
During his rally in Coimbatore, Annamalai addressed the accusations, asserting that people were eagerly waiting until 10 pm to listen to his speech. He emphasised that he could not campaign beyond the stipulated time due to the EC’s guidelines restricting the use of loudspeakers during certain hours.
Explaining the sequence of events, Annamalai mentioned that he had met with the public at the designated meeting spot in Avarampalayam on the night in question, as approved by the police. However, he left the venue after apologising to the assembled crowd for his inability to arrive on time. Despite the police approval, he refrained from canvassing votes as the allotted time for campaigning had elapsed.
The happenings in the state are any pointer; it can be easily presumed DMK is seeing writing on the walls about what it is story on June 4 the day of counting. While talking to media persons after the incident Annamalai rightly said “the DMK is beginning to show its fear of losing even the deposit in the election and hence sought police help to register a case against him. Let the police release the video of my speech after 10 pm. Apart from police, static election observers and even the Election Commission’s video team were present at the venue. The DMK’s fear of the BJP is evident. The DMK will not retain its deposit in Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency because of people’s anger against it”.
Annamalai, who has emerged as a prominent figure challenging the DMK’s dominance in the region, accused the party of resorting to violence and intimidation tactics to thwart his electoral prospects. He expressed confidence in the people’s support for the BJP-led NDA alliance, predicting that the DMK would not retain its deposit in the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency due to public discontent.
Despite his attempts to clarify the situation with the police, Annamalai’s explanations were disregarded, and a case was registered against him. He criticised the police for failing to consider his arguments and accused them of bias in favour of the ruling party. In protest against what he deemed as excessive policing, Annamalai and his supporters staged a sit-in on the road, condemning the authorities’ actions.
The excesses of the DMK Govt through the Police force have gone beyond limits as they stopped our Campaign vehicle yet again today for flimsy reasons.
The Police stopped our vehicle under the pretext that I was not allowed to campaign after 10 PM while travelling through a… pic.twitter.com/NqVYeAGw0F
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 14, 2024
FIR filed
A confrontation between DMK workers and BJP members unfolded in the Avarampalayam area recently, prompting the police to intervene and register cases against four BJP functionaries. According to police reports, the altercation arose when DMK workers objected to BJP members campaigning beyond the Election Commission’s stipulated time.
Following a complaint lodged by a DMK member, Peelamedu police booked cases against the BJP functionaries under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, DMK members lodged a complaint with the district Collector, seeking action against the BJP candidate for allegedly campaigning beyond the deadline set by the poll panel.
In response to the incident, BJP candidate Annamalai clarified that while there was a quarrel between the two parties, BJP members refrained from retaliating despite being pushed by DMK workers. Annamalai emphasized that there was no violation of election rules, as the route and rally points were pre-approved by the police. He questioned whether the Election Commission’s manual mandated candidates to leave the vehicle promptly at 10 pm and return home, asserting that he adhered to all rules and regulations prescribed by the Election Commission.
The incident sparked discussions on social media, with netizens criticising the DMK for engaging in what they termed as “lower-level politics.” Many expressed disbelief at the audacity of stopping an ex-police officer like Annamalai, suggesting that he would be well aware of the rules himself.
