Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Tuesday claimed that the DMK’s defeat would “begin in Coimbatore”, launching a sharp attack on former minister Senthil Balaji.
Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Annamalai alleged that Senthil Balaji had effectively “leased out” the DMK’s Coimbatore district unit. He also said political leaders should avoid derogatory remarks during election campaigns, adding that voters would decide with everything in mind.
Rejecting allegations of bribing voters, Annamalai said people could verify in both Aravakurichi and Coimbatore that he had not given money to voters during elections. He further alleged that in Coimbatore South, a single notary had signed documents for 18 independent candidates linked to Senthil Balaji’s Karur constituency.
Annamalai accused DMK workers brought from Karur of going street-to-street in Coimbatore and distributing Rs 200 and Rs 500, along with items such as pots and watches. He alleged that “ill-gotten money” was being poured into the election to secure votes.
He also pointed to what he described as a lack of unity in the INDIA alliance, claiming that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi did not mention DMK or Chief Minister M K Stalin during campaigning in Puducherry, and that Stalin too did not mention Rahul. Annamalai added that providing security to TVK leader Vijay was the Election Commission’s responsibility.
