CHENNAI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has leveled serious allegations against the Tamil Nadu police, claiming blatant partisanship in approving permissions for its massive statewide campaign of 25,000 corner meetings. Party leaders argue that deliberate delays and outright rejections are paving the way for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government to gain an unfair edge ahead of crucial electoral battles.
BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad demanded immediate impartiality from law enforcement, urging officers to adhere strictly to legal protocols without succumbing to political pressures. ‘Police must operate independently to safeguard democratic rights,’ he emphasized, calling on senior officials to intervene.
Spearheaded by state president Nainar Nagendran and guided by former president K. Annamalai, this outreach initiative kicked off on February 17. Prominent figures like Union Ministers L. Murugan and Pon Radhakrishnan, alongside Tamilisai Soundararajan, Vanathi Srinivasan, V.P. Duraissamy, and K.P. Ramalingam, inaugurated events across districts.
Each corner meeting targets 2-5 polling booth areas, featuring participation from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies. The core agenda? Exposing what BJP terms as the DMK’s administrative shortcomings – from alleged corruption and dynastic politics to rampant drug abuse, unfulfilled promises, and fiscal mismanagement.
Over the past three days, local organizers report facing hurdles: prolonged delays in approvals, sudden denials, and subtle intimidation tactics. In some constituencies, including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s Kolathur seat, efforts to disrupt proceedings have been particularly aggressive, according to party sources.
In a multi-pronged appeal, BJP has written to the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, and district authorities, seeking swift and fair permissions. They’ve also urged Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik to establish district-level oversight mechanisms to protect the democratic process.
Reaffirming commitment to peaceful campaigning, BJP describes these as resource-light public awareness drives. Party optimists predict a groundswell of support for the NDA across Tamil Nadu, signaling shifting political winds in the Dravidian heartland.