With 234 seats of the Tamil Nadu Assembly up for grabs in the upcoming April 6 polls, political voltage has significantly risen in the state. A number of political controversies also shaped the political battle that will conclude with the counting of votes on May 2.

Here’s a look at some of such controversies

‘Will stay away from politics’: VK Sasikala

VK Sasikala, expelled AIADMK leader and close aide of former CM J Jayalalithaa

After the expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala was released from a Bengaluru prison following the completion of her four-year jail term in a disproportionate assets case, she had said last month that she would take part in active politics.

However, in a shocking turn of events, she announced earlier this month that she “will stay away from politics.” 

She, however, urged the party workers to work like siblings and ensure Jayalalithaa’s “golden rule continues.” Sasikala appealed to the late party supremo’s supporters to prevent the “common enemy” (DMK) from coming back to power.

Rajinikanth’s U-turn

Fans of superstar Rajinikanth stage a demonstration demanding from him to join politics as earlier as promised.

Actor Rajinikanth’s entry into politics has been speculated for years, if not decades. This was confirmed after the actor said early in December that he would announce his political party on December 31, 2020, and would launch it in January.

Also read: Rajinikanth’s fans stage demonstration in Chennai after actor abandons political plans

However, just three days before he was set to make the announcement, the actor took a U-turn and said he would not be entering politics, citing his health and the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“Nobody can understand my pain in making this decision,” Rajinikanth wrote in his statement.

The superstar actor was briefly hospitalised in December due to fluctuations in his blood pressure.

Also read: ‘Do not urge me to enter politics’: Rajinikanth’s appeal to his fans

‘Will allow students to cheat’: DMK leader

Supporters of DMK alliance party during election campaign rally in support of party’s Tiruchirappalli (West) candidate KN Nehru.

In the run-up to elections, politicians make all sorts of promises and claims. But DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister KN Nehru took it to another level when he said if the party would have been in power, it would’ve allowed NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) aspirants to cheat in exam.

“Even if we are not able to secure exemption from NEET, won’t we at least allow students to copy if we were Ministers? We definitely would don’t worry,” he said in his campaign speech in Trichy.

The former minister went on to claim that students in states such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh also cheated.