Chennai: Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin engaged in a war of words in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, with a “kutty story”, a trademark swag pose and political remarks triggering a fresh confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition.
The exchange took place during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address, with Vijay employing his familiar storytelling style, often seen during his film audio launch events and political meetings as president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Vijay narrates a ‘kutty story’
Replying to the debate in the Assembly, the Chief Minister narrated a short anecdote involving an elderly man and a young boy.
“In a village, an elderly man was walking around with his hand placed above his eyes because the sunlight was very bright. He was searching for someone. A little boy with him asked whom he was looking for. The elderly man replied that he was searching for the boy’s father because he had been told that he would be there, but could not find him anywhere,” Vijay said.
The Chief Minister added that he too knew how to speak in a sarcastic and mocking manner and urged members not to become tense over his remarks.
“It was just what the elderly man said in the story,” he remarked.
Although Vijay did not name any opposition leader, his comments were widely interpreted as an indirect reference to former Chief Minister and M. K. Stalin president M.K. Stalin’s electoral defeat in the Kolathur Assembly constituency.
Swag pose sparks political reactions
As he concluded his speech, Vijay sought the Speaker’s permission to perform an “action” and made a hand gesture resembling his popular swag pose from his acting career.
The gesture quickly became a talking point outside the Assembly, with opposition leaders accusing the Chief Minister of turning legislative proceedings into a cinematic spectacle.
Udhayanidhi hits back
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin said DMK legislators had listened quietly while the Chief Minister delivered his speech in a “cinematic style”.
“He had come with a prepared script. He spoke as if nobody should interrupt him until he finished reading it and nobody should say ‘cut’ while the shooting was in progress,” Udhayanidhi remarked.
The opposition leader said the Chief Minister should answer the questions raised by the people instead of routinely blaming the DMK for every issue.
He also accused Vijay of making remarks contrary to facts and criticised his observations regarding protocol during the unveiling of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s portrait in the Assembly.
“There is a protocol for the President, whereas the Governor has no such protocol,” Udhayanidhi said while responding to Vijay’s comments that the National Anthem had been sung twice during the event under the previous DMK government.
Farmers’ protest and AIADMK defections raised
Udhayanidhi also accused the Chief Minister of belittling the farmers’ agitation by claiming that it had been instigated by the DMK.
He further questioned Vijay’s decision to meet a section of rebel legislators from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) before the trust vote.
“First, a sofa went there, and then Mr. Vijay himself went there. Now AIADMK MLAs are resigning one by one and joining the TVK,” he alleged.
‘Assembly turned into a cinema’
Responding specifically to Vijay’s “kutty story”, Udhayanidhi said the Chief Minister continued to follow the style and grammar of audio launches and trailer launch events even inside the Assembly.
“The Assembly has been turned into a cinema. Today, members whistled inside the House. This has never happened before. At this rate, they may even dance to songs,” he said.
He further alleged that everything was being carefully scripted and planned so that it would trend on social media and be widely shared as reels.
Political rivalry intensifies
The latest exchange underscores the growing rivalry between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK, with both sides increasingly using sharp rhetoric inside and outside the Assembly.
As political temperatures rise in Tamil Nadu, the verbal duel between Vijay and Udhayanidhi has once again highlighted the evolving nature of the state’s political discourse, where cinema-style symbolism and political messaging continue to intersect.