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NTK Candidate Arrested in Tamil Nadu, Sparks Fierce Political Backlash
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News18•20-10-2026, 19:15
NTK Candidate Arrested in Tamil Nadu, Sparks Fierce Political Backlash
- •NTK Dharapuram candidate M Karthika and her husband were arrested by police from their Coimbatore residence over a previous road blockade case.
- •The arrest stems from a protest during a by-election campaign when police permission was denied while coinciding with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's roadshow.
- •NTK chief coordinator Seeman and major opposition parties including AIADMK and DMK strongly condemned the arrest, calling it political vendetta and authoritarianism.
- •Leaders like M K Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin demanded her unconditional release, criticizing the ruling government for suppressing political opponents.
Key Questions Answered
M Karthika was arrested in connection with a road blockade staged during Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s roadshow prior to the October 6 by-election, as well as for protesting outside a local police station and making alleged defamatory remarks.
Opposition parties strongly condemned the arrest, calling it political vendetta, authoritarian rule, and an attempt by the TVK government to suppress political opponents and divert attention from a drug trafficking case.
M Karthika, who unsuccessfully contested the October 6 by-poll as the Naam Tamilar Katchi candidate, lost to the ruling TVK candidate P Sathyabama.
