TVK Leader Accuses Chennai Police Commissioner of Obstructing Vijay's Election Campaign
In a sharp escalation of tensions, TVK functionary Aadhav Arjuna on Monday publicly accused Chennai city police commissioner A Arun of deliberately 'blocking' actor-politician Vijay's election tour in the city. Arjuna demanded the immediate transfer of the commissioner, alleging that local officers were under undue pressure to restrict the party's campaign activities, thereby undermining democratic processes.
Allegations of Disrupted Campaign Plans
Addressing reporters, Arjuna detailed that TVK had meticulously planned election campaigns in key areas including Villivakkam, Anna Nagar, and T Nagar. However, he claimed these programs were severely disrupted after authorities abruptly cut back the approved schedule and curtailed route movements. "The party had initially sought permission for Vijay to campaign in T Nagar from 2pm to 6pm, and the returning officer had granted it following police clearance," Arjuna stated. "But shockingly, this approval was later revised to just 2pm to 3pm, a drastic reduction that raises serious questions."
He vehemently questioned how an approval issued by the returning officer could be altered within such a short timeframe, asserting that the police have no legal authority to dictate the duration of a political leader's campaign. Arjuna contrasted the situation in Chennai with other regions, noting that in Trichy and Puducherry, campaigns were allowed to proceed smoothly with appropriate traffic regulation and police support, highlighting what he termed as "selective obstruction" in Chennai.
Claims of Confinement and Unfair Treatment
Further intensifying his allegations, Arjuna accused the Chennai police of attempting to confine Vijay to a single constituency and prevent him from accessing interior city areas, which he argued limits voter engagement and violates electoral norms. "This is a clear attempt to stifle our party's outreach and manipulate the electoral landscape," he added, labeling Commissioner Arun as "dishonest" in his conduct.
In response to these grievances, Arjuna announced that TVK plans to escalate the matter by raising it before Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik. If necessary, the party is prepared to take the issue to the Election Commission in Delhi to seek redress. "All we demand from the police is equal treatment for all political parties and adequate protection for the public during campaigns," he emphasized, underscoring the party's commitment to fair play.
As of now, Commissioner A Arun has not responded to media queries regarding these allegations, leaving the accusations unanswered and adding to the controversy surrounding the election preparations in Chennai.
