TVK chief Vijay. File | Photo credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay on Friday (March 27, 2026) accused the Greater Chennai Police and some officials of thwarting his planned election campaign in the Perambur Assembly constituency on Saturday (March 28), terming the denial of permission as a “fascist attack on democracy”.
In a statement, Mr. Vijay said his party had sought permission for a campaign meeting to be held on Saturday at Mullai Nagar junction in Perambur Assembly constituency, two days ahead of schedule. However, a day before the planned campaign, on Friday, the Greater Chennai Corporation dug pits at the site and put up barricades, he said. “How did the sudden pits and barricades come about?” he asked.
At this point, the police made a check and said that 3,000 people could not have gathered at the place. Based on this assessment, the permission application was rejected on the grounds that the site was not suitable for campaigning, Mr Vijay said. “Shouldn’t the DMK caretaker government be ashamed for taking action against TVK with the support of some officials?” he asked.
“Every time I plan an election campaign, the DMK government continues to delay or deny permission for various reasons. This act of deliberate crushing of the democratic rights of a new political party that has received overwhelming public support creates the impression that some officials are acting as agents of the ruling party,” he said.
Preparations in full swing for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Party poll office at Krishnamurthy Nagar, Perambur Assembly Constituency, March 24, 2026 | Photo credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
“Such an act reflects the authoritarian mindset which thinks that anyone who opposes us will be crushed with administrative power. This obstruction is proof of how much DMK is afraid of TVK. The people of Tamil Nadu will send this anti-democratic DMK government out of power,” he added.
Later in the evening, District Electoral Officer and Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran denied TVK President Vijay’s allegations of obstruction by the GCC in his planned election campaign in the Perambur Assembly constituency.
Speaking to the media, he said that the Chennai District Election Office will examine the applications and after consulting the police, issue the permit based on standard operating procedure. Chennai Corporation is not doing any work in this area and no new work has been started either, he said.
In a statement on X, the corporation clarified that Metrowater had started work to restore water supply in the area by digging a road and the work has been completed. The application on the Suvidha portal was rejected as the petitioner stated that 3,000 persons were expected to congregate at SM Nagar 82nd Block Junction, a congested stretch suitable for small gatherings. Once the revised application is submitted identifying alternative sites, officials will examine the application, he said.
Published – 27 March 2026 18:44 IST
