News Tamil Nadu

Chaos Erupts During Nilgiris BJP Candidate L. Murugan’s Nomination, Annamalai Cools Tempers

March 25, 2024
The Commune

Political

The Lok Sabha nomination process has kicked off vigorously, with candidates rushing to submit their names in their respective constituencies. The BJP had previously announced its intention to file nomination for L Murugan, former Tamil Nadu BJP president and current Minister of State, for the Nilgiris constituency and a time was allotted for that.

Accordingly, on 25 March 2024, accompanied by Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai, L Murugan filed his nomination papers in Ooty, joined by numerous party cadres. However, as they proceeded with the nomination process, police clashed with party volunteers outside, resulting in injuries and ensuing chaos. This action prompted protests from BJP activists, who condemned the police’s actions.

Several BJP workers reportedly sustained injuries during the police baton charge, sparking tension in the area. State President Annamalai, along with L. Murugan, joined the protest, demanding the removal of Ooty SP Sundara Vadivel.

Dinamalar reported that following the outcry, SP Sundara Vadivel apologized for the incident. In response, Annamalai, L. Murugan, and others decided to end the protest and visited the hospital to meet the injured volunteers and offer them consolation.

 

Annamalai clarified the necessity of his protest, citing the heightened anger among party members due to the police’s use of baton charges against the Nilgiris SP, “We also want to preserve the dignity of the uniform, this police department also has a dignity, we do not allow our men to shout slogans, if they speak ill of you, that dignity will be lost.
How can you do this sir, we also have to deal with it, we have sent a woman to the hospital with a broken bone, a child has been hit here, we need to cooperate a little, sir. You have put us into an unavoidable situation, and if I had said a word I would have been here in five minutes.”

Afterward, he reassured the agitated party members and urged them to regain composure, emphasizing the need for calmness stated, “Whatever we talk about the police now it will attach a stigma to it, doesn’t it? There is no alternative to that. That’s why when you all come, we said don’t raise any slogans against the police, if our party doesn’t respect the police, no other party will respect the police, the incident is very wrong.

That’s what I said to the SP-Sir, Sir, the crowd is very large, if you have something to say to them, just phone me a word and we will come from inside and say it ourselves. We come at the appointed time, we go to the appointed place, we file the nomination form at the given time, but you have lathi-charged like this. As a police department is a brother, it is wrong to talk to them on the road like this, so don’t stay here for long. And when they come down, we come down three times because of our dignity, as far as the Bharatiya Janata Party is concerned, it is a party that always gives respect to the police department and always gives dignity.”

Today, the police found themselves under pressure and responded accordingly. In order to prevent any altercation between the two party cadres, they have handled the situation without leniency. It’s important to clarify that their actions were not deliberate, and SP has apologized for any unintended consequences. As enforcers of the law, it is his responsibility to maintain order. Therefore, we urge everyone to respect the authority of the police, and we will peacefully depart from the protest with dignity.

The Nilgiris region is experiencing political heat as the electoral competition intensifies. The contest in the Nilgiris constituency is particularly fierce, with notable candidates vying for victory. Union Minister of State, L Murugan, has entered the race, adding significant weight to the contest. Additionally, Lokesh Tamil Selvan, the son of former Speaker Dhanapal, is representing the AIADMK in the constituency. Meanwhile, A Raja, the incumbent Member of Parliament, who is also a former Union Minister and DMK’s deputy general secretary.

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