Coimbatore: The BJP state vice-president and candidate for Coimbatore South constituency, Vanathi Srinivasan, was allegedly attacked and her car was damaged by AIADMK men at RG Street in Coimbatore on Sunday afternoon.
Three BJP cadres including a woman have been hospitalised following the attack, the BJP candidate claimed. Immediately, the AIADMK candidate for Coimbatore South Am man Arjunan, came up with a counter-complaint, alleging that five AIADMK cadres were hospitalised in the attack by BJP men.
Addressing media persons, Vanathi Srinivasan claimed that around 40 AIADMK workers led by councillor K.A. Adhina rayanan surrounded her car, abused her in a filthy language and refused to give way when she came out of a condolence meeting in the prayer hall near a Jain temple at RG Street. Police did not turn up to provide protection for her even 45 minutes after the incident, she alleged.
The AIADMK men also broke the windshield of the car and damaged a rear portion using sharp weapons. “Though I tried to convince them that I did not canvass votes and just attended the condolence meet, the AIADMK cadres behaved in an unruly manner. I was almost held up for ten minutes and I was rescued and taken away from the spot by another party cadre on a two-wheeler. Police did not turn up even 45 minutes after the incident,” she said.
“As AIADMK is afraid of facing a defeat in the constituency, they think that they can threaten the voters who are in favour of the BJP by indulging in violence against a woman candidate,” she charged.
The party has lodged a complaint with the police and Election Commission demanding action against the AIADMK workers for the attack. In a quick counter-allegati on, the AIADMK candidate said that Vanathi Sri nivasan was engaged in canvassing, when a few AIADMK men objected to it.
“Then the BJP party workers resorted to violence, which left five of our cadres including two women with injuries. They are now hospitalized and we will be lodging a complaint against them with the police and election department,” he said.
