TVK Election Campaign Faces Multiple Hurdles in Chennai Over Permissions
The election campaign of the Tamil political party TVK has encountered significant obstacles in Chennai, with authorities denying permissions for key events and threatening to close its election office. The party's plans to introduce candidates and launch its president's campaign have been disrupted, leading to accusations of political interference.
Permission Denied for Public Meeting in Perambur
TVK functionaries revealed that the party had organized a public meeting at Mullai Nagar junction in Perambur scheduled for Saturday. However, permission was rejected by officials who cited inadequate space to accommodate the proposed 3,000 attendees. The party had applied for permission on March 26, just two days before the event.
TVK President Vijay strongly criticized the decision, calling it "a fascist attack on democracy" orchestrated jointly by Chennai city police and certain officials. He alleged that Greater Chennai Corporation suddenly dug up the venue and placed iron barricades to prevent the gathering.
"Should DMK government not feel ashamed for acting against TVK with the support of certain officials? This shows the extent to which DMK fears TVK," Vijay added in his statement.
Official Response and Scaled-Down Alternative
In response to the controversy, Perambur's returning officer clarified that permission was rejected because the location was unsuitable for hosting 3,000 people. Following this setback, TVK has now applied to hold a scaled-down meeting in Perambur on March 30 with approximately 100 participants.
District election officer Kumaragurubaran emphasized that applications for poll events should be submitted through the Suvidha app at least 48 hours in advance, rather than through paper submissions just one day prior to the event.
Election Office Faces Closure Threat
Meanwhile, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department has issued a notice to TVK stating that the party's election office in Villivakkam is located on a parcel of land belonging to a temple. This development adds another layer of complication to TVK's election preparations in Chennai.
Party leader Aadhav Arjuna alleged that ministers were pressuring officials to block permissions for TVK's election events across the state, suggesting a coordinated effort to hinder their campaign activities.
Postponed Candidate Introduction Event
The party has postponed its event to introduce candidates for all 234 constituencies from Friday to Sunday after failing to obtain permission for the original date. This represents another significant disruption to TVK's carefully planned election schedule.
Party's Counter-Arguments and Future Plans
TVK leader C T R Nirmal Kumar responded to the district election officer's statements, claiming that Kumaragurubaran was misleading the public. "We applied through the app but returning officers are blocking approvals," he stated.
Nirmal Kumar revealed that the party has made a representation to chief electoral officer Archana Patnaik seeking intervention in the matter. He added that TVK would finalize President Vijay's campaign schedule from March 30 and ensure that permissions are sought well in advance for future events.
The series of permission denials and official notices has created substantial challenges for TVK as it attempts to gain momentum in the upcoming elections. The party's allegations of political interference against the ruling DMK government add a contentious dimension to what should be routine administrative processes during election season.
