The former BJP state president is no stranger to Coimbatore and is popular in the region for being the face of the national party. Swathes of people sported stoles in green-saffron and red-black-white, waved the party flags of the partners in the NDA and others jostled to find a comfortable spot in the sweltering Coimbatore sun.
When Annamalai arrived, there was a frenzy as chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ bellowed. The entry of the former IPS officer, who is fondly called ‘Singham’ by his followers, was nothing short of what an entry of a hero would be like in a masala movie, complete with background music and confetti – again in the signature colours of the BJP and AIADMK.
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Annamalai, who was at the temple to campaign for AIADMK candidate for the Coimbatore (South) constituency Amman K Arjunan, launched scathing attacks on the ruling DMK government. He specifically targeted issues related to law and order and said that under the AIADMK administration, stability prevailed and even prime minister Narendra Modi had acknowledged this.
In contrast, he alleged that during the DMK rule, 2,080 sexual assault cases had been reported and over 30,000 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases registered. He emphasised that police must remain under proper control to ensure freedom and safety for citizens.
“Having realized that contesting in Karur would surely lead to defeat and out of fear, Senthil Balaji of the ten-rupee fame has fled to Coimbatore,” he said. “What qualifications does he have to contest in the election? Being trapped in a corruption case and spending 477 days in jail, giving false promises every election, switching constituencies out of fear of defeat, and engaging in half-baked politics by switching five parties-these are the so-called qualifications of Senthil Balaji.” He said the people of Coimbatore South were waiting to vote to ensure a resounding defeat for Senthil Balaji and to prevent the continuation of the ‘disastrous’ DMK rule over the past five years.
“People across Tamil Nadu have decided against the continuation of the DMK government, and the NDA alliance would come to power. The political decline of Senthil Balaji in Coimbatore South had begun and would extend further,” he said.
He also hit out at TN chief minister MK Stalin labelling the AIADMK as a ‘slave party.’ He said the AIADMK has come to power more times than the DMK and that there is no dynastic politics in the NDA alliance, unlike in the DMK. He also alleged that the chief minister is not speaking about his government’s achievements and instead is focused only on election promises. He also accused DMK MP Kanimozhi of spreading misinformation about LPG cylinder shortages.
