Vijay Apologises After Minister’s Karunanidhi Reference Triggers DMK Protest In Assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday apologised in the state Assembly after Forest Minister RV Ranjith Kumar referred to former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi by name without using the traditional honorific "Kalaignar". The reference triggered an immediate protest from opposition DMK members, prompting Vijay to intervene and assure the House that the omission was inappropriate. The Chief Minister subsequently apologised on behalf of his minister, helping to defuse the situation. The incident occurred during a debate on the demands for grants for the Health and Revenue departments.

While participating in the discussion, Ranjith Kumar criticised alleged cash-for-votes practices during previous elections and referred to the controversial "Thirumangalam formula". During his remarks, he mentioned Karunanidhi without attaching the honorific traditionally used to refer to the late DMK leader in the Assembly. DMK legislators objected to what they considered a breach of established legislative decorum. Karunanidhi, a former Tamil Nadu chief minister and long-serving president of the DMK, is widely referred to by party members and supporters as "Kalaignar", a title meaning scholar or artist.

The honorific has been closely associated with his public and political identity for decades. His name continues to carry considerable political significance in Tamil Nadu, particularly within the DMK, making references to him in the Assembly a sensitive matter. As opposition members protested, Vijay stepped in to prevent the disagreement from escalating. Acknowledging the concern over the manner in which Karunanidhi had been addressed, the Chief Minister accepted responsibility for the lapse on behalf of his minister.

Also Read: CM Vijay Writes To PM Modi, Seeks Lok Sabha Seats Frozen At 543

"I apologise on his behalf," Vijay said in the Assembly, bringing the immediate confrontation to an end. The controversy arose during Ranjith Kumar's wider criticism of alleged electoral practices in Tamil Nadu. Referring to the "Thirumangalam formula", he claimed that as much as Rs 1,500 had been distributed per vote in his Kancheepuram constituency during previous elections.  The term "Thirumangalam formula" is commonly associated with allegations of large-scale cash distribution to voters during the 2009 by-election in Tamil Nadu's Thirumangalam constituency. Ranjith Kumar's remarks on alleged cash-for-votes practices were part of the broader Assembly debate over government departments and past political practices.

However, his reference to Karunanidhi without the customary honorific quickly became the focus of the exchange. Vijay's apology allowed the House to move past the issue while acknowledging the opposition's objection over the language used for the late leader. The episode highlights the political sensitivity surrounding Karunanidhi's legacy in Tamil Nadu and the importance attached to legislative conventions when referring to prominent former leaders. While the disagreement was resolved through the Chief Minister's apology, the incident briefly shifted attention away from the substantive debate over health, revenue and alleged electoral practices. The Assembly subsequently continued its proceedings after the intervention.

Also Read: AIADMK Leader Targets CM Vijay With Trisha ‘Deputy CM’ Question Amid Political Row