News Tamil Nadu

TN BJP Chief Annamalai’s Campaign Convoy Stopped By TN Police Over Flimsy Reasons; Police Register Case After Protests Ensue

April 15, 2024
The Commune

Tensions rose in Coimbatore as Tamil Nadu BJP Chief, K Annamalai, staged a protest after police halted his convoy, citing a violation of the approved campaigning time limit. Annamalai, who is contesting from the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming national elections, placed blame on the state’s ruling DMK government for what he termed as “draconian” actions by the police.

The incident unfolded around 10:30 PM on 14 April 2024 when Annamalai’s campaign vehicle was passing through the Ondipudhur area of the city. However, police officers stationed there refused to allow the vehicle to proceed, asserting that it was operating beyond the permissible time frame for campaigning.

Expressing frustration at the police intervention, Annamalai initiated a protest, clarifying that his intent was not to campaign but merely to greet people while remaining inside the vehicle. The ensuing demonstration resulted in traffic congestion in the vicinity.

Subsequently, police registered a case against Annamalai and 300 party workers under sections 143 and 341 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In a social media statement released late that night, Annamalai criticized the DMK government’s actions, alleging that they had crossed boundaries by obstructing their campaign vehicle on what he described as flimsy grounds.

He wrote, “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 preapproved point. Despite explaining that we were not campaigning, the lights in our vehicle were off, and we only wanted to meet the 2000 

@BJP4TamilNadu cadres in the pre-approved point through which our campaign vehicle was passing. Despite explaining to the Police officer that his actions were beyond the instructions laid down by EC, they compelled us to take an alternative route. The draconian DMK Govt will face the people’s wrath when Coimbatore Will unanimously casts its vote disapproving 3 years of misgovernance on the 19th of April.” 

Several videos are being shared on social media where Annamalai is seen engaging with the police where he elaborates on the situation, asserting that they were not engaged in campaigning and that their vehicle’s lights and the microphone were off, the police kept insisting on redirecting them through an alternative route.

Speaking to news media, Annamalai alleged that the police together with the DMK were doing everything possible to distribute money and prevent candidates like Annamalai from the BJP from campaigning freely. 

Annamalai later with his cadre staged a protest.

Tamil Nadu is one of the first states to go to polls on 19 April 2024. 

(with inputs from India Today)

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