chennai:

Coimbatore police have filed an FIR against the BJP candidate and its state president K Annamalai for allegedly conducting campaigning after the 10 pm deadline last night. He was charged with unlawful assembly, undue restraint and causing a public nuisance.

The altercation ensued after cadres of the DMK and Left parties objected to the BJP campaigning outside the allowed hours.

“An FIR has been registered under sections 143, 341 and 290. Another case has been filed against the BJP based on the DMK’s complaint of attack,” a senior police officer confirmed the development.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan said, “Annalai unleashes terror and incites riots out of fear of failure”.

He added, “The prime minister who talks about arrogance should hand over Gyan to Annamalai”.

Responding to the accusations, Mr Annamalai insisted he had done nothing wrong.

“I have every right to meet people after 10 pm. Which electoral commission stopped you, where is the order, show me?” he asked.

“This is a conspiracy to sabotage Annamalai’s victory. The BJP is indulging in abuse of power,” said ANS Prasad, state spokesperson of the BJP.

“They abused the power of the police and the tax collector while registering the case,” he added.

The battle for Coimbatore has gained traction as the BJP fielded the state chief minister.

The ruling DMK has fielded Ganapathy Rajkumar while Singai Ramachandran is the AIADMK candidate.

Despite being an AIADMK bastion, the DMK alliance won this seat in 2019, sweeping the state and winning 38 of the 39 seats.

The AIADMK has ended its relationship with the BJP, which is without a major ally this poll season.