Election officials have demanded additional video surveillance teams for constituencies such as Perambur due to the “high volume of events and overlapping schedules” of candidates such as TVK’s C. Joseph Vijay, former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

In Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, the video surveillance teams will be changed to enhance surveillance as Mr. Udhayanidhi is among the candidates contesting from the Assembly segment.

The Expenditure Observer has asked district officials to deploy additional video surveillance teams and flying squads in the Virugambakkam constituency to prevent the distribution of money to voters.

As campaigning has intensified for the upcoming polls, election officials have noticed the “overlapping of schedules” in many of the 16 Assembly constituencies of the city.

For instance, the DMK’s application seeking permission for Mr. Udhayanidhi’s event on April 8 in constituencies such as Perambur has not been approved owing to the overlapping schedule of Mr. Palaniswami’s campaign in the same area.

On April 8, Mr. Udhayanidhi is expected to participate in meetings in constituencies such as Perambur, Kolathur, Villlivakkam, Royapuram, Harbour and Egmore in the evening, after a series of meetings in Thiruvallur, Avadi, and Ambattur. Mr. Palaniswami is scheduled to participate in meetings in areas such as Kolathur and Perambur on the same day.

After the Returning Officer rejected the application for a gathering of 3,000 people for Mr. Vijay’s campaign in Perambur, a smaller meeting of 100 people was permitted on March 30. However, a large number of people gathered in the area.

The election officials are expected to increase the surveillance of such events by deploying more video surveillance teams, as a number of policital party leaders are expected to visit the city for election campaign.