Coimbatore remarks
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai told reporters in Coimbatore that the DMK would be defeated in the district by its own party cadre across constituencies. He said he would meet the media daily until polling concludes, and urged voters to “think and vote” based on facts.
NDA prospects and criticism of DMK campaign
Annamalai alleged that Chief Minister M K Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Kanimozhi were making public statements without proper data. He said the AIADMK-led NDA alliance was confident of winning more than 210 seats and forming the government.
FCRA debate
Responding to the DMK’s criticism of amendments to the FCRA, Annamalai said the law was originally introduced during the Congress era in 1976, and that subsequent changes were made under Congress-DMK governments as well. He said the BJP government had made smaller amendments in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and that the 2026 amendment was not targeted at any community.
Metro projects and Tamil teachers issue
On Coimbatore and Madurai metro projects, Annamalai said the Centre had returned the state’s draft report seeking corrections, and accused the DMK of not resubmitting it. He also cited a written reply by Union minister Jayant Chaudhary stating that Tamil can be studied in 40 out of 46 Kendriya Vidyalayas, and said the BJP would complain to the Election Commission over what he called the spread of misleading information during the election period.
Coimbatore South nominations
Annamalai further claimed that the Chief Minister had “sent” Senthil Balaji to contest in Coimbatore South, and pointed out that 18 independent candidates in the constituency were from Karur. He alleged that such entries could be used to secure passes, appoint booth agents and distribute freebies, and termed it an unfair tactic in the 2026 Assembly election.
