TVK president Vijay said on Friday that permission for his election campaign at Mullai Nagar junction in Perambur constituency, scheduled for Saturday, was denied by the Greater Chennai Police. He described the decision as a “deliberate attempt to crush the democratic rights” of a new, growing party with “massive public support.”

However, election officials denied allegations of bias, stating that the request was rejected for safety reasons. TVK had sought permission for a gathering of 3,000 people, but the site could not safely accommodate such a crowd. S. Geetha, the Returning Officer of Perambur, noted that Mullai Nagar junction is not among the designated venues for such meetings. The nearest approved site, SM Nagar, 82 Block, would still not be able to hold the expected crowd, leading to the rejection of the application.

In a post on X, Vijay alleged that the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) suddenly dug up part of the road at the spot on Friday and placed barricades around it. He claimed that the police then inspected the site and said it was unsuitable for 3,000 people to gather. “Where did these sudden pits and barricades come from?” he asked, suggesting that officials were acting in favor of the ruling DMK.

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Vijay further accused authorities of using their power to suppress a party that is “rising against them,” calling the situation “blatant oppression.” He said this is the second time TVK has faced obstacles, noting that a candidate introduction meeting scheduled for Friday was also cancelled due to delays in obtaining approval.

District Election Officer of Chennai J. Kumaragurubaran clarified that the GCC did not carry out any work at the site. He explained that the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board had conducted minor repair work to fix a pipeline rupture, which was quickly completed. He described linking the repair work to the denial of permission as “completely wrong.”

TVK’s North Chennai district secretary, Siva V, said the party will seek fresh approval for a smaller gathering of 300 people at TVK Link Road near Kodungaiyur on March 30. The party plans to continue its campaign activities while complying with safety regulations and election protocols.

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