Senthil Balaji, AIADMK cadre booked for model code violation in Karur

30 pm, the time allotted to them, they were stopped by the police led by Kulithalai DSP Sukumar, as the AIADMK candidate M Thambidurai, who was filing nomination, was yet to come out of the hall. This triggered a heated argument between Senthil Balaji and the police, and even the Congress-DMK cadre raised slogans against the cops, blaming them for being soft with the ruling AIADMK. On Tuesday, based on a complaint by the Thanthodrimalai Sub Inspector Chinna Durai, police registered a case against Senthil Balaji under various sections, including IPC 353 (deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty). Meanwhile, Thanthodrimalai police registered a case against 100 AIADMK cadre for conducting campaign rallies.

AISMK leader R Sarath Kumar on Tuesday met Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and extended support to the AIADMK alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “Senior AIADMK leaders including Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam asked me to support the alliance and based on their demands, I have changed my stand and have decided to support the alliance,” Sarath said after the meeting. Recently, he had criticised BJP by saying the minorities were insecure under the central government leadership and that he will not be a part of an alliance that has BJP in it. He also announced AISMK will contest alone in all the 40 constituencies across TN. However, he did not announce the candidates till the final day. When it was expected that Sarath will file nominations, he sprang a surprise by meeting Palaniswami and expressing support for the alliance. Sarath justified his change of stand by stating that AISMK and AIADMK have been allies for 10 years. “A high-level meeting of our party was convened and we decided to support the alliance,” he said. Further, he said that he will be campaigning for all the BJP and AIADMK candidates in the 40 seats across TN and in Puducherry.

MK Kanimozhi, the DMK candidate from Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, has the potential to the change the face of the district with more developmental works, Congress spokesperson S Peter Alphonse said on Tuesday while seeking votes for her. She would render public service with dedication and bring about significant socio-economic changes, he said. The spokesperson alleged that there was a conspiracy to stem the progress of VO Chidambaranar Port since the central government has been trying to privatise all major seaports and airports in the country. Pointing out that already many ports have been leased out to corporate groups like Ambani and Adani groups, he said that if Kanimozhi was elected from Thoothukudi, the VOC Port could be saved. Also, the long-awaited project of Sethu Samudram shipping canal would be implemented, he told reporters. Criticising the BJP, Alphonse said public sector units suffered a lot as the government gave priority to private sectors. He alleged BSNL was worst hit after the central government ignored the public telecom sector and promoted the privately-held ‘Jio’. He also promised the formation of a dedicated ministry to address the grievances of the fishermen. On the police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters on May 22 last year, he said it was pathetic that CM Edappadi K Palaniswami did not meet the bereaved families and consoled them and that even the PM did not condemn the incident.