Thiruvananthapuram | A BJP-Yuva Morcha march to the Keralam Assembly over alleged PSC irregularities and seeking the resignation of LoP Pinarayi Vijayan turned violent on Friday, prompting police to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, officials said.

The BJP and Yuva Morcha organised the march over alleged irregularities in the Keralam Public Service Commission, including delays in recruitment to government jobs.

They demanded Vijayan's resignation following the registration of cases by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) against him and his family in connection with alleged payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) when he was the CM.

More than 200 BJP and Yuva Morcha workers, including women, marched towards the Assembly, where police had erected barricades to prevent them from proceeding further.

When some protesters attempted to remove the barricades and climb over them, police initially used multiple rounds of water cannons, officials said.

As the protesters continued their agitation, police warned them that tear gas would be used to disperse the crowd.

When they refused to leave, police fired two rounds of tear gas, officials said.

BJP leaders alleged that the tear gas was used without provocation and claimed that several party workers and a journalist covering the protest were injured.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, they said.

The BJP has announced a series of protests until the ongoing Keralam Assembly session concludes at the end of this month.

The party has also announced protest meetings in other districts.