Violence has erupted across several districts of Tamil Nadu among the DMK party cadre following the release of its candidate list two days ago. Thousands of functionaries also laid siege to the house of the Party President M. Karunanidhi on Friday.

Supporters of the “discarded” former Minister Veerapandi Arumugam attacked candidate R. Rajendran’s supporters, which resulted in the injury of several DMK cadre in Salem district.

Likewise, irked party functionaries also assaulted candidate Nandakumar and senior DMK leader T.A. Mohammed Saqhy at Anaicut constituency in Vellore district. However, both of them were rescued thanks to timely intervention of the police.

Main roads of Anaicut were blocked and more than 500 DMK functionaries pelted stones on their party office before ransacking it.

Annoyed by the violence, Karunanidhi appealed he cadre to be united and concentrate on working hard for the party’s victory. “Inter-party differences must not be allowed. Each and every one will get a chance”, he added.

Karunanidhi also said his party had carefully selected candidates who had “winning prospects”. “Therefore, please do not indulge in any violence activities”, he appealed to his cadres.

However, not heeding to Karunanidhi’s request, nearly 200 cadre from Tirunelveli district tried to lay siege to their party chief’s residence at Gopalapuram in the morning demanding to remove Mohideen Khan as candidate from the Palayamkottai segment.

The protesters alleged that the sitting MLA Mohideen Khan had not done anything for the constituency in the last five years. Police had a tough time in controlling the crowd as they tried to enter Karunanidhi’s house.

A signature campaign was organised against Mohideen Khan’s candidature and it was submitted to Karunanidhi’s daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi.

Going to the extreme, two DMK party men in Tiruchi district, attempted to immolate themselves asking the party high command to change the candidate in their constituency alleging that he was not a local.

A protest march was also organised by the local DMK cadre in several other districts demanding the removal of the candidates from the list in their respective constituencies.

As the State is now witnessing series of violence among DMK cadre in several districts leading to law and order problems, the State Government has deployed extra security personnel in several sensitive and tensed areas.