TVK faces fresh trouble as candidate accused in sexual assault case

A case has been registered against a candidate of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district over allegations of sexual harassment, police confirmed on Tuesday.

The development comes at a sensitive time, shortly after the party announced its candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.

What the allegation says

The accused, Prakash alias Kutty, is the TVK candidate from the Poonamallee constituency and currently serves as the party’s Tiruvallur South district secretary. According to police, the case is based on a complaint filed by a woman who is also associated with the party.

In her complaint, she alleged that the incident took place around six months ago during a wedding reception attended by several party members and leaders. She further claimed that she had initially reported the matter to the party leadership, but no action was taken at the time.

Case registered, investigation underway

The matter resurfaced when the woman, along with her husband, approached the Tiruvallur District Superintendent of Police’s office and filed a formal complaint. Based on her statement, police registered a case under multiple sections and initiated an investigation.

Officials said the complainant has been questioned, and further inquiries are ongoing. They added that legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe.

Counter-claim from accused’s family

The case has also taken a contentious turn, with the accused’s family denying the allegations. Prakash’s wife has filed a counter-complaint, claiming that the charges are false and motivated.

She alleged that the complaint was fabricated after the woman was not given a position within the party.

Political impact

The incident has drawn attention as it involves a candidate announced by TVK leader Vijay for the upcoming elections. With the poll season approaching, the case is expected to remain under scrutiny as the investigation progresses.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, has faced a series of challenges as it makes its electoral debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu polls. The party has been navigating organisational and political hurdles, including complaints to the Election Commission over police and traffic management during Vijay’s campaign events, questions over dual candidacy strategies from rival leaders, and public scrutiny over its ability to manage large crowds after a 2025 rally in Karur drew far more attendees than expected, leading to a crowd crush and subsequent investigations. TVK has also had to counter speculation about alliances and clarify its decision to contest independently, while balancing high public expectations with the realities of building a new political movement in a competitive landscape