Udhayanidhi Stalin dares CM Vijay to open three corruption files, take action

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday challenged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to "open" the three corruption files he claims to have on his table and act on them.

Kicking off a debate in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi pointed out that the chief minister had referred to three files and said he was waiting for the right moment to disclose them.

"The chief minister has accused our previous DMK regime mentioning not to force him to reveal the details. I insist that he open the files and take action. Why are you afraid to reveal and why are you delaying," Udhayanidhi said, commenting on Vijay's stance — a remark that Speaker J C D Prabhakar later ordered expunged.

Stepping in, Minister N Anand insisted that the government had complete evidence relating to the files and assured the House that legal action would follow at the right time.

At the same time, the Speaker rejected Udhayanidhi's claim that the chief minister relied on others for decision-making, asserting instead that the CM functioned purely based on his own judgment, intellect and administrative skills.

He explained the CM's working style, noting that decisions are made through structured, formal consultations with department officials rather than outside influence.

Prabhakar urged members to avoid using terms like "punch dialogues" or cinematic conduct, stressing that inflammatory or unsubstantiated claims would not be entertained in the House without proper documentation. 

Udhayanidhi's sharp response comes after Chief Minister Vijay's statement in the Assembly on August 19, when he cautioned the opposition DMK against continually demanding proof of corruption from the previous regime, claiming he already had "incriminating files" from three government departments on his table.

He said the "incriminating files" had already been examined and were currently sitting on his table, warning the opposition that he would disclose the details when the time was right. "Initially, I didn't want to make a statement. But the opposition is demanding evidence. A week ago, Finance Minister (N Marie Wilson) had said that three department files are on my table following a review. It was not a random statement. The files are on my table with proof. Don't force me to reveal. I shall do it at an appropriate time," Vijay had told the Assembly in response to opposition criticism.

Udhayanidhi also turned down the state government's plan to give official vehicles to all MLAs, stating that the DMK, which holds 59 seats in the House, would refuse them.

Citing the severe financial crisis the chief minister himself had referenced, the Leader of the Opposition argued against accepting the vehicles and suggested that only financially struggling members should be given them.

The treasury benches countered that the initiative was not a luxury but a necessity, enabling MLAs to reach and serve their constituencies effectively. They stressed it was a matter of protocol, comparable to facilities extended to ministers, adding that members who already own vehicles would naturally opt out. 

The heated exchange also touched on the effects of live Assembly telecasts, with Udhayanidhi remarking that the overall tone of Assembly debates was starting to resemble a reality musical show more than serious legislative proceedings.

Although Speaker Prabhakar had the controversial remarks made by ministers and other members expunged from the official record, Assembly transcripts, edited video clips and social media reels carrying those exact comments continued to circulate online, making the formal expungement largely ineffective.

Pushing back against the criticism, Ministers Aadhav Arjuna and Anand strongly defended the ruling party's conduct and legislative approach.

Arjuna stressed that the current government had shown unprecedented boldness in bringing full live broadcasts of the Assembly to the public, allowing citizens to directly track democratic proceedings. He contrasted this with the previous DMK government, which he said had failed to deliver on this election promise.

He also argued that a member breaking into song to make a contextual point was harmless as long as it directly reinforced the argument being made.

Minister Anand recounted a personal anecdote about a 70-year-old citizen who, along with his family, now preferred watching live Assembly debates over regular television serials, saying it gave him reassurance to see elected leaders actively working for the public.  (With inputs from PTI)