The situation has been boiling in Tamil Nadu even before the vote counting, with the election office of one candidate of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) headquartered by Vijay allegedly being burnt down by unknown persons. The accident occurred in Pettavaythalai region of Srirangam constituency near Tiruchirappalli.
The targeted office was reportedly of TVK candidate Ramesh. Members of the party have decried the act and are demanding serious steps to be taken and call it a calculated move to upset the process of democracy. The union secretary of the party has filed a formal complaint with the local police and an investigation has been initiated to find out who did the arson.
The incident occurs just days before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections which had 234 seats, and which were conducted on April 23. The election will be held May 4 and the political action will increase throughout the state.
In the meantime, TVK leaders have given strict guidelines to candidates and party officials to be on guard during the counting exercise. Candidate N. Marie Wilson disclosed that Vijay had instructed all party candidates to be in counting centres by 6 am and stay there all the time closely observing what was happening without leaving their posts.
The arson attack has contributed to the already heated political environment in the state, with security and fairness of the election being questioned.