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

AIADMK leader R B Udhayakumar on Tuesday took a swipe at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, popularly known as actor-politician Vijay, by sarcastically asking when actor Trisha Krishnan would be appointed as Deputy Chief Minister. Udhayakumar’s remarks came amid a political controversy over appointments made by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and days after former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was involved in a separate row over remarks apparently directed at Vijay. Udhayakumar’s comments were made in a video that has since circulated widely. In the video, Udhayakumar alleged that the TVK government was appointing people closely associated with Vijay to important government positions.

He referred to individuals who had worked with the actor in the film industry, including producers and members of his technical teams, and suggested that their professional association with the Chief Minister had influenced their appointments. He then listed several positions and used the alleged appointments to question the government’s approach to selecting people for official responsibilities. Udhayakumar specifically referred to appointments involving a temple trustee, the Tamil Nadu government’s special representative in New Delhi, Vijay’s personal secretary, the head of a state film training institute and government advisers. He argued that the appointments reflected a pattern in which people who had previously worked with Vijay were being given positions within the government.

He then extended his criticism by sarcastically asking when Trisha, who has acted with Vijay in several films, would be made Deputy Chief Minister. The remarks appeared to be aimed at highlighting what Udhayakumar portrayed as a perceived connection between Vijay’s film career and the functioning of the TVK administration. By invoking Trisha’s professional association with the Chief Minister, the AIADMK leader used a sarcastic comparison to question whether government appointments were being influenced by personal or professional relationships. The comments are likely to fuel further political debate over the appointments and the manner in which the newly formed TVK government is handling its administration.

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Udhayakumar’s comments also came against the backdrop of a recent political controversy involving Udhayanidhi Stalin. The former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister had sparked criticism over an offensive remark that was widely seen as being directed at Vijay. Stalin was subsequently arrested and spent more than 10 hours in custody before being released last week.

The episode intensified the political confrontation surrounding Vijay, who entered electoral politics through the launch of the TVK and subsequently became Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister. Vijay and Trisha have shared the screen in several Tamil films, making the reference immediately recognisable to audiences. Their collaborations include commercially successful films and have contributed to their longstanding association in Tamil cinema. 

Udhayakumar’s decision to mention Trisha in the context of government appointments was therefore framed as a political taunt rather than a claim that she was actually being considered for a government position. The AIADMK leader’s remarks reflect the wider political contest over the TVK government and its functioning. Vijay, who built his public profile as one of Tamil cinema’s leading actors before entering politics, is now facing scrutiny over decisions made by his administration.

Opposition parties are expected to closely examine appointments, policies and administrative decisions as the government settles into office. Allegations concerning the selection of officials are likely to become another area of political confrontation between the ruling TVK and established parties such as the AIADMK. Udhayakumar’s comments have also brought the question of political appointments into focus at a time when Vijay’s transition from cinema to governance remains under intense public attention.

His critics have repeatedly questioned whether his extensive network within the film industry could influence the functioning of the government, while supporters are likely to defend the appointments on the basis of individual qualifications and experience. The claims made in the video would need to be assessed against the official records of the appointments and the qualifications of those selected.

For now, Udhayakumar’s “when will Trisha become Deputy Chief Minister?” remark has added a new layer to the ongoing political exchanges involving Vijay and his government. The sarcastic comment was intended to question the alleged appointment of people associated with the Chief Minister, but it also highlights how Vijay’s film career continues to feature prominently in political attacks against him. As opposition parties scrutinise the TVK government’s early decisions, the debate over appointments and the boundaries between personal associations and public administration is expected to remain politically contentious.

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