The Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udayanidhi Stalin, faced criticism from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) after slogans referencing actor Trisha were chanted at a DMK event where he criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s management of the Cauvery dispute with Karnataka.
TVK MLA Rhevanth Charan described the DMK’s conduct as “absolutely disgusting” in a post on X, stating that such actions “expose the mindset and declining standards of the Arivalayam clan.” He added, “Passing such disgraceful comments against anyone is completely unacceptable. It exposes the mindset, political culture, and declining standards of the Arivalayam clan. Your announced protest collapsed even before it could begin. Now, desperate for attention, you have resorted to cheap provocation and engagement farming.”
Charan also warned the opposition against “continued arrogance and inappropriate behaviour,” writing, “This is precisely why the people of Tamil Nadu rejected you and confined you to the position you are in today. Continue with this arrogance and indecency, and you will soon be erased from public relevance altogether. Even by Arivalayam’s already abysmal standards, this is a new low.”
Meanwhile, the DMK, under Udayanidhi Stalin’s leadership, staged a protest in Thanjavur on January 31 demanding firm action to protect Tamil Nadu’s rights over Cauvery water, a complete waiver of agricultural crop loans, and a special relief package for Delta farmers.
During the protest, Udayanidhi Stalin criticised Chief Minister Vijay and TVK president for prioritising attacks on the DMK. He accused the Chief Minister of levelling “fake charges” against party leaders. As he spoke, DMK supporters chanted “Trisha, Trisha,” drawing attention while senior DMK leaders on the dais smiled.
Udayanidhi Stalin also condemned the detention of Tamil Nadu farmers in Maharashtra during protests against the Mekedatu project, saying, “When our Tamil Nadu farmers travelled to Delhi to protest over the Mekedatu issue, they were arrested in Maharashtra. Our party leader has issued a statement condemning this. But the Chief Minister has not uttered a word because Maharashtra is ruled by the BJP. The Chief Minister simply does not have the courage to speak against them.”
He further criticised the Chief Minister’s reluctance to mention the BJP, stating, “Even after completing three months in office, the Chief Minister has not even uttered the word ‘BJP’ once. That shows just how ‘brave’ he is.”
Udayanidhi Stalin said the administration appeared more focused on preserving its government than safeguarding farmers’ welfare and rights. He challenged the Chief Minister’s approach to the inter-state water dispute, observing, “When farmers across Tamil Nadu united against this TVK government, the Chief Minister staged a drama by announcing that he would travel to Karnataka. Our party leader and many others urged him not to go, but he ignored all those requests. He fell silent only after the Karnataka Chief Minister made his position clear.”
He added, “Leave aside meeting the Karnataka Chief Minister, did Vijay first meet the farmers of Tamil Nadu?”
Highlighting the administration’s priorities, Stalin said, “From the Chief Minister to ministers, MLAs, and even their relatives, everyone seems obsessed with shooting reels and releasing videos in the name of inspections.”
He criticised the use of inspections for publicity purposes, stating, “Instead of using inspections to divert the people’s attention, the Chief Minister should stop inspecting schemes launched by the DMK and instead introduce his own schemes and inspect those.”
Concluding with a remark aimed at the Chief Minister, he said, “To put it in language that Vijay will understand, Don’t use someone else’s ghee to make sweets for your own house.”