Election flying squad officials on Friday searched a helicopter carrying BJP leader K. Annamalai when he arrived in Ooty for an election campaign in the Nilgiris district. Annamalai, a member of the BJP Working Committee and former Tamil Nadu BJP president, had flown from Coimbatore to Ooty to campaign for BJP candidate Bhojarajan, who is contesting from the Ooty Assembly constituency.

After landing, officials inspected the helicopter as part of routine checks under the Model Code of Conduct. The examination took place shortly after his arrival, as authorities have stepped up monitoring in poll-bound areas to ensure adherence to election rules and prevent violations. The incident comes amid increased political activity in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 23, with vote counting on May 4.

Political tensions have escalated between major parties. Earlier in the day, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticised DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, referring to past allegations linked to the 2G spectrum case. He warned that continued trust in Chief Minister M.K. Stalin could lead to further legal issues and claimed that the DMK is dominated by the Karunanidhi family.

Kanimozhi, who has been campaigning actively for DMK candidates, accused opposition leaders of being out of touch with the public. She described the election as vital for protecting Tamil Nadu’s “self-respect” and urged voters to back DMK candidates. Election flying squads, along with Income Tax officials, also carried out searches at several locations associated with Jaffer Sadiq, a former DMK functionary accused in an alleged international drug trafficking case. Authorities are investigating claims that funds may have been stored for distribution to voters.