Chennai: DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday launched a fresh attack on Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, accusing him of applying different standards to political opponents and himself while questioning the circumstances surrounding his recent visit to New Delhi.
Addressing party workers and supporters, Stalin said Vijay had repeatedly criticised him during his tenure as Chief Minister whenever he travelled to the national capital, alleging links with the BJP and claiming that such visits were intended to avoid action by central agencies.
Stalin recalls earlier allegations
Referring to past political exchanges, Stalin said Vijay had frequently accused the DMK leadership of maintaining an understanding with the BJP and suggested that visits to Delhi were politically motivated.
According to Stalin, Vijay had alleged that he travelled to the national capital to escape scrutiny from agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and to secure political advantages from the Union government.
“Whenever I travelled to Delhi as Chief Minister, the present Chief Minister made several allegations. He claimed that I had gone there to escape Enforcement Directorate cases and suggested that I had surrendered to the BJP for political benefits,” Stalin said.
The DMK leader argued that those accusations were now returning to haunt Vijay following his own visit to Delhi.
Questions raised over Delhi trip
Turning his attention to Vijay’s recent visit, Stalin questioned whether the Chief Minister’s trip was linked to ongoing investigations, including the Karur CBI case.
He also asked whether Vijay was avoiding direct criticism of the BJP out of concern that confrontation with the Union government could create difficulties for his administration.
Without directly making any allegations, Stalin said he was merely highlighting the same line of questioning that had previously been directed at him and the DMK.
According to him, the purpose of his remarks was to expose what he described as inconsistencies in Vijay’s political narrative.
‘I will not lower my standards’
Despite his criticism, Stalin said he would refrain from making personal attacks against the Chief Minister.
He stressed that attending official programmes in New Delhi is a routine part of a Chief Minister’s responsibilities and should not automatically be viewed through a political lens.
“I will not lower my standards by making derogatory comments about the Chief Minister simply because he attended an official government programme in Delhi,” Stalin said.
The former chief minister maintained that official visits to the national capital are often necessary for discussions related to governance, development projects and administrative coordination.
Political rivalry intensifies
The latest remarks reflect the increasingly sharp political rivalry between the ruling TVK-led government and the opposition DMK.
Over recent months, both parties have frequently exchanged accusations regarding their respective relationships with the BJP and the Union government.
The issue has emerged as a major point of political contention in Tamil Nadu, where regional parties have traditionally sought to project themselves as independent of national political influence.
Political analysts believe the debate over ties with the BJP is likely to remain a prominent issue in the state’s political discourse ahead of future elections.
BJP factor remains central issue
Questions regarding political alignments have repeatedly surfaced in Tamil Nadu politics, with parties often accusing one another of maintaining covert understandings with the BJP.
Stalin’s latest criticism appears aimed at challenging Vijay’s previous statements and placing him under the same scrutiny that the DMK faced when it was in power.
The remarks also come at a time when opposition parties are seeking to define their political positioning in relation to the Union government and national alliances.
Impact on Tamil Nadu politics
Observers say the exchange is likely to further intensify political competition between the DMK and the ruling establishment.
While the ruling side has sought to portray itself as an alternative to both the DMK and national parties, the opposition has increasingly questioned whether the government’s actions match its political rhetoric.
The latest war of words is expected to dominate political discussions in the state and could influence future campaign narratives.
Conclusion
M K Stalin’s criticism of Joseph Vijay’s Delhi visit has added another chapter to the growing political confrontation between the DMK and the ruling government in Tamil Nadu. While Stalin questioned the Chief Minister’s consistency and political messaging, he also maintained that official visits to New Delhi are part of a leader’s administrative responsibilities, underscoring the complex nature of the ongoing political battle.