TMJK leader alleges confinement in room at Collectorate during CM’s visit to Pudukottai

The Tamizhaga Makkal Jananayaga Katchi (TMJK) state president K.M. Shariff, who unsuccessfully contested as a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam candidate from the Pudukottai Assembly constituency in the 2026 Assembly elections, has alleged that he was kept in confinement in a room at the Collector’s Office and prevented from meeting Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay during his visit to Pudukottai on Monday.Mr. Shariff along with three others, including two members of the Congress, carrying VIP passes came to the Collectorate where the government function was held, before the arrival of the Chief Minister. But officials, according to Mr. Shariff, told them the passes in their possession were “invalid” and that it could had been issued by mistake. However, Mr. Shariff insisted on meeting the Chief Minister to submit a petition seeking the establishment of a cashew nut factory and a government law college in Pudukottai constituency.The officials had asked Mr. Shariff and the other three persons to wait in a meeting room, near the Collector’s chamber, where a few Revenue Department officials were present. Upon entering the room, Mr. Shariff said the doors of the room were locked thereby keeping them in confinement and denying him an opportunity to meet the Chief Minister. Attempts to reach the Collector and other officials proved futile.Mr. Shariff said he and the others, including the Revenue officials, were holed up inside the room for nearly three hours without even drinking water and toilet. They were let out only after the Chief Minister left the Collectorate. Mr. Shariff said the VIP pass was given to him the previous night. “Had we been told the previous night that the pass was invalid we would not have come to the Collectorate at all,” Mr. Shariff said. Published - November 02, 2026 07:03 pm IST