The denial of permission at the last minute for Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan to campaign for him for Sulur Assembly byelection is at the behest of the AIADMK and BJP, the party's candidate G. Mayilswamy alleged here on Friday.
“The party applied for permission on May 7. Then the party had asked for campaign at 16 points. Then it kept reducing the number of campaign points and finally it sought permission in at least two spots but the officials concerned kept delaying permission. Finally, at 9.50 p.m. Thursday, the official denied permission citing law and order issues,” he told The Hindu. He then asked the officials if law and order was the issue, how were other parties given permission. Mr. Mayilswamy said the last minute denial was also to prevent the party from moving the court for relief. But the denial had come as a blessing as Sulur voters had seen through the game and his support base had improved.
When he went on campaigning on Friday, voters empathised with him and said that they would vote for him.
Earlier, Mr. Haasan had told journalists in Chennai that if the law and order situation in Sulur was so bad then election should be postponed.