States » SouthPosted at: Oct 23 2026 5:28PM


NTK Dharapuram candidate Karthika walks out of prison on bail, flays Vijay, terms him as 'evil force'

Chennai, Oct 24 (UNI) Walking out of the Coimbatore Central Prison on bail to a rousing welcome from party cadres, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) functionary and losing Dharapuram Assembly bypoll candidate Ms.M.Karthika on Friday launched a scathing attack on TVK Founder and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, terming his intentions "unconstitutional" and calling him the "evil force" (Theeya Sakthi) of the state.
Karthika, her husband and seven others, who were among 12 TVK cadres arrested for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the October 6 bypoll campaigning and for allegedly obstructing Vijay's roadshow in Dharapuram on October 4, were granted bail late on Thursday night and released from prison today.
Her counsel Nanmaran urged the court to grant bail as she has to take care of her two daughters. Accepting the plea, Judicial Magistrate Uma Maheswari granted bail. The Court would be hearing the bail plea in respect of three others and pass orders.
Upon her release, high voltage celebrations erupted outside the prison gates as hundreds of NTK supporters carrying party flags showered flower petals, garlanded her, and raised slogans in her support to the beating of drums.
Karthika asserted that she was merely exercising her democratic and constitutional rights as an election candidate when the police clamped down on her. "The intention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay is unconstitutional. We were exercising our constitutional rights. As a candidate, I should ask for votes and campaign for my party. I was only doing my constitutional duty," she said.
Lashing out at the ruling TVK, she alleged that attempts were being made to suppress opposition candidates and establish authoritarian control over the constituency. "He intends that the entire Dharapuram constituency should be under his and his party's complete control, which is completely against the Constitution. That is why we are fighting against him. He is the one who is called the theeya sakthi (evil force). The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is the only bad energy in Tamil Nadu," she charged.
Vowing to intensify her political struggle, Karthika said "We are protesting against him, and we will never give up and will always remain on the ground for the people."
Karthika and her husband were arrested on October 20 early morning from their Coimbatore residence by a special police team from Dharapuram. They were taken to Dharapuram where after questioning, was produced before the Magistrate, who late in the night that day, remanded them and other TVK cadres in judicial custody for 15 days.
Her arrest was condemned by all the Opposition parties, who termed it was politically motivated and an act of political vendetta. They also questioned the timing of the arrest for a case registered on October 4.
NTK Founder Seeman has announced a state-wide protest demonstration in all district headquarters tomorrow to condemn the arrest.
UNI GV 1725
Tags: #NTK Dharapuram candidate Karthika walks out of prison on bail# flays Vijay# terms him as 'evil force'
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