2026 TN elections | EC clears Vijay's campaign in city amid bias charge

CHENNAI: Even as Actor and TVK chief Vijay on Saturday met Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik at the State Secretariat and submitted a detailed representation to the Election Commission alleging partisan conduct by sections of the administration and denial of permissions for campaign events, the poll panel granted permission for Vijay to campaign in Chennai.

Vijay is scheduled to launch his campaign on March 30 around 2 pm in Perambur after filing his nomination papers, and will subsequently campaign in Villivakkam and Kolathur, party sources said.

In his petition, Vijay sought urgent intervention to ensure a level playing field and flagged what he described as systemic obstruction to opposition campaigning. He urged the Commission to order the immediate transfer or reassignment of key officials, including the Director General of Police, Commissioner of Police (Greater Chennai), ADGP (Law & Order), ADGP/IG (Intelligence), DG/ADGP (Armed Police), and senior administrative officers such as the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary (Public), Secretary to the Chief Minister (I), and Finance Secretary.

The main prayer in the representation called upon the ECI to seek an urgent report from the Tamil Nadu CEO, appoint special or police observers, order immediate transfer of identified officers, bring deployment under strict ECI supervision, ensure a transparent and uniform permission system, scrutinise administrative decisions during the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) period, and prevent misuse of enforcement machinery.

The representation cited multiple instances of alleged bias, including denial of permission for a Perambur rally, last-minute restrictions, and physical obstruction, such as barricading and digging around venues to prevent public meetings.

Senior leader KA Sengottaiyan, who accompanied Vijay, said a planned candidate announcement event was cancelled despite prior compliance with norms. "The programme was intimated (to poll officials) online 48 hours in advance as per rules. However, barricades were put up and even pits were dug around the venue. After initially advising us to obtain permission, authorities later imposed sudden restrictions," he said.

Alleging differential treatment, Sengottaiyan said other political parties were being granted permissions without difficulty, while TVK was being denied access to even a single venue. He termed it an attempt to obstruct Vijay's campaign.