A recent development in the Madras High Court sees a political party formally joining a case in support of actor C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This petition asserts that established political parties within the state are actively attempting to silence opposition and hinder the growth of newer movements.
The petitioner, Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi (DMSK), led by its president M.L. Ravi, has formally requested the High Court’s permission to be included in a petition originally filed by the TVK. This petition challenges the stringent conditions imposed by the Tamil Nadu police on Mr. Vijay’s statewide campaign efforts. The DMSK aims to assist the court by adding its perspective to the proceedings.
Represented by its counsel A.P. Suryaprakasam, the DMSK argued that since 2016, it has consistently worked to highlight the struggles of the underprivileged and marginalized, whose concerns often go unaddressed by those in authority.
The petition further alleges that long-standing, financially powerful political parties, having held significant power both at the national and state levels, deliberately obstruct smaller parties. These larger entities, it claims, try to prevent newer movements from exposing alleged corruption and misdoings.
“These established parties behave like a vast banyan tree, overshadowing and stifling the growth of any smaller political saplings,” the affidavit states. It continues, “They seize every opportunity to prevent opposition parties from criticizing the ruling party and its ministers, frequently misusing official administrative mechanisms to serve their own agenda.”
The DMSK further contended that the TVK, as a burgeoning political party, is facing direct and indirect intimidation through an illicit exercise of power. “The current ruling party in Tamil Nadu is leveraging its influence to silence dissenting voices, thereby attempting to undermine the very foundations of democracy,” the petitioner asserted.
The party argues that the selective targeting of the TVK is evident in the “oppressive” conditions imposed on its leader. They highlight restrictions such as limiting Mr. Vijay’s speaking time to just 30 minutes per meeting and capping the number of attendees at his campaign events.
“The Tamil Nadu Police appears to be acting as an extension of the ruling DMK, failing to apply the same standards to all political gatherings,” the affidavit asserts. It warns that “dissent is fundamental to democracy, and the police’s imposition of such burdensome conditions exclusively on the TVK should not be permitted, as it sets a dangerous precedent for future suppression of other political groups.”
The DMSK strongly requested the court to grant its intervention in the TVK’s ongoing case. Their intention is to illustrate how judicial demands for caution deposits before organizing public meetings and processions disproportionately harm smaller political entities, while having little impact on financially powerful parties.