The Tamil Nadu BJP president and Coimbatore candidate, K Annamalai casted his voting in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections and alleged that the DMK and AIADMK have collectively spent over 1000 crores in Coimbatore to sway the voters. Annamalai cast his vote at a polling booth in Uthupatti, Karur, as voting unfolds across all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu today.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu BJP chief and party's candidate from Coimbatore constituency, K Annamalai says, "People of Tamil Nadu are with PM Modi. We are confident, our party is strong and the people are with us and June 4 will be a historic result for NDA…In Karnataka, we are… pic.twitter.com/Vn7AKP59Nl
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In the Coimbatore constituency, DMK leader Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK’s Singai Ramachandran are contesting against the BJP state President. Annamalai emphasized that he would quit politics if anyone could prove that a BJP member attempted to influence them, stating, “What DMK, AIADMK is doing in Coimbatore, everybody is watching it. More than 1000 crores have been spent in Coimbatore. If they can bring one voter in front of the media to say that some BJP person is trying to influence them, I will leave politics the same day because I am running in this election as a matter of principle.”
He further alleged, “DMK thinks that it can buy people with money and AIADMK is also on the same boat. Officials in Coimbatore have gone blind for the last 2-3 days. Our people repeatedly have complained to the collector. The action has not been taken, it is not neutral.”
Annamalai asserted that the BJP would secure over 25 per cent of the votes independently and win in double digits. Expressing confidence in the electorate, he stated, “Today I have done my democratic duty and it is an important duty for every citizen of our country because India has a functioning democracy where citizens make democracy to function. We are extremely confident that people will repost their trust in good people and governance. I am extremely confident that Tamil Nadu will witness a historic change. People will honour our all candidates for their hard work.”
Addressing the governance, he mentioned, “The people have seen 10 years of governance (BJP at centre) and they want it to continue for five more years. The opposition is clueless. The INDIA bloc is yet to announce its Prime Minister candidate. The people of Tamil Nadu deserve an answer. Tamil Nadu has benefitted on every single point, be it funds coming, be it the glory and honour given to the Tamil language.” Annamalai faces tough competition from parties like DMK and AIADMK, which wield significant influence in Tamil Nadu with their dedicated supporters.