CHENNAI: The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Wednesday alleged a conspiracy to prevent party president Vijay from carrying out his campaign across Tamil Nadu in the coming days, and demanded the immediate transfer of senior police officials, including the Chennai City Police Commissioner.
Meanwhile, TVK president Vijay, in his representation to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleged serious security lapses during his campaign despite his “Y” category status, and has urged the Union Home Minister to intervene and enforce proper security protocols.
In a separate representation to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Vijay reiterated his demand for the transfer or reassignment of the following IAS and IPS officers: DGP, Commissioner of Police, ADGP (L and O), IG or ADGP (Intelligence), DG or ADGP (Armed Police), and Chennai Corporation Commissioner.
TVK general secretary N Anand and deputy general secretary (election management) Aadhav Arjuna submitted a representation to Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik at the State Secretariat, seeking the transfer of the Chennai City Police Commissioner and other officials to ensure free and fair elections.
Speaking to reporters after submitting the representation to the CEO, Arjuna alleged that in Chennai, with a view to crippling TVK’s campaign, the City Police Commissioner Arun and several ADGPs and SPs were functioning in a dishonest manner and had failed to grant permission for the campaign.
“When people throng in large numbers, DMK president MK Stalin expected a recurrence of the Karur tragedy in Chennai and wishes to play politics using that. If something of that sort had happened in Kolathur on March 30, the DMK would have had a plan to cripple the TVK leader’s campaign for the next 20 days. It is a big conspiracy of the DMK. To thwart this conspiracy, Vijay cut short his campaign and returned,” Arjuna added.
Arjuna further said that when the TVK president entered the Kolathur constituency, there was a “wave” among the people, similar to what had happened in Karur.
Sensing the situation, Vijay cut the campaign short midway and returned. “When the CM and Deputy CM carry out their campaign, even if there are no people, both of them have been allowed to wave their hands from the top of their vehicles.”
He also said that on April 2 in Trichy, Vijay had been advised not to wave at people from the van but to remain seated inside the vehicle.
Since people would not be able to catch a glimpse of their leader, they would rush to the place where he would be addressing them, which could lead to a stampede.
“We have explained this situation before the CBI during the inquiry into the Karur tragedy. Contrary to the situation in Tamil Nadu, when Vijay visited Puducherry, the police blocked the roads, allowing Vijay to campaign. So our campaign ended on a peaceful note.”
Arjuna further alleged that they had submitted video footage showing how broken bottles were kept in a mansion in Villivakkam, where a TVK election meeting was held.
“We do not have confidence in the city police, but we have confidence in the CEO,” he said, adding that the City Police Commissioner and intelligence officials should be transferred to other States. He noted that the TVK president had already made this demand last week.
Arjuna said that from April 2 onwards, the TVK president would be visiting across the State to meet the public. Hence, the State police would be responsible for the safety of both the people and the TVK president.
“We are ready to cooperate with the police. We urged the CEO to direct the police to ensure that the Vijay campaign is made a ‘free zone’,” he added.
In his representation to the Union Home Minister, Vijay raised concerns over major security lapses during his election campaign in Tamil Nadu.
Despite being a “Y” category protectee, he alleged there was inadequate police deployment, absence of escort, poor crowd control, and lack of proper route management, exposing both the leader and the public to risk.
At campaign venues, he alleged there was a lack of barricading, removal of sound systems, and mismanagement of crowds, which further worsened the situation.
He said repeated requests for enhanced security had gone unheeded, and urged the Union Home Minister to intervene and ensure strict adherence to prescribed security protocols.
