TVK to approach Election Commission over alleged remarks against Dharapuram candidate

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam will file a complaint with the Election Commission of India over alleged body-shaming remarks made by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M.K. Stalin about its Dharapuram candidate, Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar said on October 3.

Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Mr. Nirmal Kumar accused Mr. Stalin of making derogatory comments about P.

Sathyabama, the party’s candidate in the Dharapuram by-election. He said it was condemnable that such remarks had allegedly been made about a Scheduled Caste woman contesting the election. The minister also claimed that the DMK would lose the by-elections in Dharapuram and Madurantakam.

He alleged that the DMK was moving towards an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the AIADMK for the 2029 election, comparing this possibility with the AIADMK’s political direction. Mr. Nirmal Kumar said the TVK described the DMK as an “evil force” because it considered the party harmful to society.

He also rejected allegations that the TVK was paying voters, saying the party’s policy was not to give money for votes. He said the TVK remained opposed to the Special Intensive Revision and claimed that, had the exercise been conducted properly, the party would have won 160 Assembly seats. The claim was not accompanied by supporting details in the material provided.

Responding to questions about barricades at Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s campaign events, Mr. Nirmal Kumar said they had been installed for public safety.

He attributed a recent power shortfall to a reduction in allocation from the Neyveli plant, saying the State managed the situation by purchasing electricity from the market. He said there were no power cuts because of the shortage and that tenders for long-term power purchase contracts would be issued within two to three months.