The Coimbatore police on Friday, April 12, 2024 registered a case against K. Annamalai, BJP Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency candidate and party’s State president, on charges of engaging in election campaigning beyond the permitted time.
A senior officer attached to the Coimbatore City Police said the case against Mr. Annamalai, party’s Coimbatore president Ramesh Kumar and district treasurer Senthil Kumar was registered in connection with the campaigning held at Avarampalayam in the city after 10 p.m. on Thursday.
The Peelamedu police registered the case for poll code violation on Friday based on a complaint lodged by an official of the election cell.
After Mr. Annamalai and the NDA cadre canvassed votes post 10 p.m. at Avarampalayam, members of the INDIA bloc demanded action against them. This led to a clash and NDA workers allegedly assaulted the cadre of the opposite side, leaving a few of them injured. The police had a tough time clearing the crowd. One injured man was rushed to a hospital.
The official added the second case was registered based on a complaint lodged by a worker of a party affiliated to the INDIA bloc for the assault.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) alleged violation of the election code of conduct by Annamalai.
Show cause notice issued
N. Karthik, the DMK Coimbatore Urban District Secretary, and the DMK Coimbatore candidate Ganapathi P. Rajkumar, told press persons in Coimbatore on Friday that the BJP candidate K. Annamalai campaigned after 10 pm on Thursday at Avarampalayam. There was a police vehicle ahead. The DMK and alliance cadre questioned the police for permitting campaign after 10 pm . “A group of henchmen from outside Coimbatore engaged by the BJP attacked our cadre,” alleged Mr. Karthik. The Returning officer for Coimbatore, Kranthi Kumar Pati, told The Hindu the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) had given an update that the Flying Squad Team (FST) failed to act quickly and hence show cause notice was issued to them.
Mr. Annamalai told the media that the handbook on election code given to the candidates says that the candidate should get permission to go on a route and use loud speakers and does not permit use of loud speakers from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. But, it does not stop the candidate from meeting the public after 10 p.m.
Mr. Annamalai said he and the cadre had only taken the pre-determined route approved by the police on Thursday and had not used the loudspeaker to canvass for votes. On several days, because of the delays during the campaigning, it extends beyond 10 p.m. So they meet the public, greet them and apologise to them for the delay. This is not a violation of the poll code, he said.
The DMK is scared of defeat and it will lose its deposit in Coimbatore, he claimed. “I have every right to meet people after 10 p.m. and it was on the points already approved by the police,” he said.
