The principal opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its NDA allies have announced a statewide protest on March 17, accusing the ruling DMK government of failing on several fronts, particularly law and order.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami will lead the protest in Chennai.
Leaders of alliance parties will spearhead demonstrations in other cities, including Nainar Nagendran in Madurai, K. Annamalai in Coimbatore, Tamilisai Soundararajan in Tirunelveli, Vanathi Srinivasan in Tiruppur, Anbumani Ramadoss in Cuddalore, T. T. V. Dhinakaran in Thanjavur and G. K. Vasan in Erode.
The opposition said the agitation would highlight rising crimes against women and children, including the recent rape and murder of a 17-year-old student in Thoothukudi district, and incidents of custodial deaths in Sivaganga district.