NTK Candidate Arrested For Poll Violation, Sparks Political Backlash In Tamil Nadu

The Naam Tamilar Katchi functionary M Karthika and her husband Murugachandra Kumar were arrested by the Dharapuram police from their residence in Coimbatore today.

Police said a case was booked against Karthika and seven others, including her husband, two days before the October 6 by-election, for staging a road blockade on the Dharapuram-Mulanur main road protesting against denial of police permission for her campaign, which clashed with Chief Minister Vijay's roadshow.

Karthika lost to the ruling TVK's P Sathyabama. She is the state women's wing coordinator of NTK.

Cases were also registered against her for allegedly protesting outside and besieging a local police station over the removal of an NTK party banner and for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Chief Minister Vijay during the altercation.

Following the arrest, NTK chief coordinator Seeman strongly condemned the action, calling it an act of "political vendetta", "authoritarian rule" by the TVK government and a "fabricated case".

Main opposition parties, including the AIADMK, also issued statements accusing the ruling government of targeting political opponents using election-period cases.

Strongly condemning the police for the arrest, the NTK claimed the arrest was made on a false charge. The party functionary was arrested in a pre-dawn operation without even allowing her to change her clothes. "She had to spend seven hours at the police station, where she was dragged away by more than 10 policemen without allowing Karthika to speak to the waiting media persons. This is totalitarianism," the party's IT Wing said on X, tagging the chief minister.

Flaying the state government, former chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin sought to know what could be achieved by arresting and intimidating Karthika.

"In the past, when Mrs Karthika criticised the DMK and its leaders, we approached it by standing firm on policy and providing appropriate responses to bring clarity, rather than ever thinking of imprisoning women leaders and silencing them. However, the TVK government is behaving like an authoritarian regime devoid of tolerance and democratic spirit," Stalin said.

"The entire nation witnessed the TVK government's abuse of power during the by-election. Arresting and harassing Naam Tamilar Katchi functionaries for merely questioning it is nothing but cruelty and pettiness," he said on X.

Police officials engaging in arrests for ordinary cases that warrant only bail will face the court's reprimand, he warned and urged the police not to support the TVK's political vendetta actions. Stalin demanded the unconditional release of Karthika and her party members.

Leader of the Opposition DMK in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin too strongly condemned the arrest, calling it a political vendetta. He claimed the arrest was an attempt to divert the public attention from the shocking drug trafficking case involving a TVK functionary that has rocked the nation.

DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi too flayed the arrest and accused the TVK government of acting solely with the intent to suppress opposition parties.

"At a time when the people are suffering daily due to law and order breakdown, power cuts, and rising prices of commodities, the government must stop focusing on suppressing opposition party members and instead resolve the people's issues to run a proper administration," she said.

Stating that Karthika's arrest was made in an "anarchic manner" was strongly condemnable, the AIADMK, in a statement said it was shameful that the administration was displaying "a fascist approach to settle their grievances by showing all the cases filed during the election."

"By arresting a candidate who contested on behalf of a recognised state party, Chief Minister Vijay has once again proved what we have always seen as narcissistic behaviour," it said.

"Will you stop your vehicle to receive a petition from someone who approaches when your convoy is passing, or will you register a case and arrest the petitioner for stopping your convoy? People are beginning to get suspicious," the AIADMK said and demanded that the state government order the release of Karthika and drop the case against her and others.

AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran criticised the arrest too.