A DMK leader in Chennai has been booked for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at a party event, with the ruling TVK accusing the opposition of turning political platforms into spaces for personal attacks. The police have named Chennai Corporation ward councillor Sudha Deenadayalan and party functionary Muralidharan, who had organised the October 7 gathering as the accused.
Deenadayalan, the party's Chennai East District Women's Wing organiser, allegedly targeted the Chief Minister after he criticised DMK president M K Stalin, addressing him in the singular and passing derogatory remarks. Police said no arrests have been made so far.
Video clips circulated on social media purportedly showed her using abusive language and making personal remarks comparing physical appearances while defending her party leadership, both outlets reported.
The speech was delivered on a stage that included Kanimozhi, a DMK deputy general secretary and MP, former state minister P K Sekar Babu and Chennai Mayor R Priya. Footage circulated online appeared to show Sekar Babu and Priya laughing as she spoke. The Greater Chennai City Police acted after TVK Harbour Area Secretary Udayakumar filed a complaint, with Deenadayalan facing charges over an alleged attempt to incite public disorder.
Aadhav Arjuna, the TVK general secretary who also handles public works and sports development, strongly condemned the DMK, saying "The DMK is mired in ugly, vile language" and alleging its platforms had become "disgusting", both outlets reported. Questioning Stalin's silence, he asked whether the former chief minister was ignoring such incidents or secretly "enjoying and encouraging" the remarks.
Arjuna added, "The woman speaker has stooped to a political low while Mayor Priya, who held a responsible position, is laughing and enjoying it. Mrs Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, who is the DMK deputy general secretary, is keeping her head down and remaining silent." He demanded immediate legal action against the speaker, saying only that would strengthen democracy and healthy politics.
The DMK hit back by sharing a video claiming Kanimozhi and Sekar Babu had reprimanded Deenadayalan after the programme and urged her to maintain political decorum, both outlets reported. Kanimozhi later said politicians should not define their character by the behaviour of their political opponents.
At the same event, Kanimozhi outlined the foundational principles of the Dravidian movement and invoked social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy, former chief minister C N Annadurai and former chief minister M Karunanidhi, saying the DMK's identity did not need validation or fear competition from newly formed parties. She also criticised the quality of Assembly debate, alleging the ruling party failed to answer opposition questions and turned proceedings into a performance for social media, Deccan Chronicle reported.
(With inputs from PTI)