Party workers, led by TVK candidate Sinora Ashok and DMK candidate and Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, were locked in a skirmish on the day of polling for Tamil Nadu Assembly election on April 23, 2026, after the latter reportedly questioned the “suspicious” presence of the former near a booth on Angappa Naicken Street in the Harbour constituency. Claiming that Mr. Sekarbabu had threatened them, the TVK workers resorted to a protest.

A few party workers of TVK clad in brown pants and white shirts were standing near a booth and a mosque at Angappa Naicken Street. At 5.45 pm, Mr. Sekarbabu and his supporters came there and allegedly asked them why they were standing so close to the booth. A quarrel and a scuffle ensured between both groups. Immediately, the cadre of TVK sat in protest on the road. As the situation escalated, the police officers intervened and pacified them. They dispersed them and Mr. Ashok claimed that he was threatened by Mr. Sekarbabu.

Clash in Saidapet

Three persons, including two members of the TVK and a councillor of the DMK, were injured in a clash near the Aranganathan subway in Saidapet on Thursday evening. The injured were identified as Senthamizhan and Ramakrishnan, both lawyers and TVK cadre, and Sridhar, DMK councillor of ward 140. According to the police, the incident occurred when TVK cadre were waiting near the subway. At that time, DMK candidate Ma Subramanian arrived at the location along with Mr. Sridhar. The councillor asked the TVK cadre to vacate the area, which led to a verbal argument between the groups.

TVK functionary alleges assault

The police are investigating after Rathi, a functionary of the TVK, alleged that she was assaulted by DMK members near a polling booth on VM Street in Royapettah, sparking a brief road blockade by her party cadre.

According to the complaint, while Ms. Rathi, ward secretary of TVK (Ward 119), was verifying voter lists near the booth, a gang of 15 persons, including DMK Ward 119 secretary Mohan and party member Mari, confronted her. They allegedly abused her, issued threats and assaulted her sons during the altercation. Following the incident, Ms. Rathi and other TVK members sat on the road on VM Street, demanding the arrest of those involved.

Police personnel rushed to the spot and held talks with the protesters, after which the protest was called off. Rathi later submitted a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mylapore. Based on her complaint, police have registered an inquiry, and further investigation is under way.

Tension prevailed at a polling station in Otteri after a woman named Amulu alleged that her vote had already been cast when she arrived to exercise her franchise in the Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar Assembly constituency on Thursday. The incident occurred at a polling booth in a middle school on Venkatammal Samadhi Street. Sources said the complainant, Amulu, was told by polling officials that her vote had already been recorded when she came to vote.

Following the incident, booth agents of the AIADMK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam present at the booth engaged in an argument with election staff, causing a brief disruption. The police personnel and election officials intervened and held discussions with the woman to verify the details and address her complaint. Officials said a detailed inquiry is under way to ascertain how the vote was recorded prior to her arrival.

Pregnant NTK candidate attacked

Anis Fathima, NTK candidate for the Papanasam Assembly constituency, was admitted to the Government Rajah Mirasdar Hospital in Thanjavur on April 23 as she was allegedly manhandled by polling agents of the DMK and the IUML at a booth in the constituency.

According to NTK sources, Ms. Fathima, who was pregnant, had visited the polling booth at Ukkadai in Ammapettai, when police personnel had directed her to remove the shawl carrying the party’s election symbol.

She had complied with the direction and entered the booth only to find a person, wearing a shirt with the ‘Ladder’ symbol of the IUML candidate A.M. Shahjahan speaking to polling agents. When she pointed this out to the police personnel who asked her to remove her shawl, they asked her to lodge a complaint in writing. As she was preparing the complaint, IUML and DMK party cadre barged into the booth and pushed Ms. Fathima and started abusing her. Her supporters were also abused and manhandled, sources claimed.

Subsequently, NTK sources said they decided to lodge a complaint with the Superintendent of Police as the Ammapettai Police refused to entertain a complaint.