Udhayanidhi Stalin Defiant After Arrest Over Trisha Remarks Row

Senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin shared a photograph with his father, former chief minister MK Stalin, after being released from police custody. Invoking his family’s political legacy, Udhayanidhi said he was the grandson of former chief minister M Karunanidhi and the son of MK Stalin, adding that he would not be intimidated by arrest.

Udhayanidhi was briefly taken into custody on Tuesday morning, a day after his remarks involving actor Trisha Krishnan during a protest in Thanjavur triggered a political controversy. He was questioned by police and released later in the evening. Following his release, the DMK leader said he was prepared to face arrest repeatedly if it came while raising issues affecting farmers.

The controversy began when members of the audience chanted Trisha’s name while Udhayanidhi was speaking at a demonstration concerning the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka. His response was criticised by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which alleged that the comment carried a vulgar double meaning and undermined the dignity of women and the standards expected in political discourse.

Also Read: Political Parties Criticize Udhayanidhi Stalin Over Remarks On CM Vijay And Trisha

Udhayanidhi rejected the allegations and accused the TVK government of attempting to divert public attention from farmers’ concerns. He claimed that false cases had been registered against him and alleged that the authorities sought to harass him by taking him from Chennai to Thanjavur. He also said he willingly accompanied the police and did not attempt to avoid questioning.

Escalating his attack on the government, Udhayanidhi referred to the Karur stampede in which 41 people were killed. He accused the chief minister of failing to meet the victims’ families or address the media after the tragedy and criticised him for travelling to Malaysia for a film promotion within the following month. These assertions formed part of his broader political criticism of the TVK administration.

The Leader of the Opposition thanked DMK workers, alliance partners and leaders of other political organisations who condemned his detention and organised protests demanding his release. He also called for the release of supporters reportedly detained during demonstrations. The episode has intensified tensions between the DMK and the ruling TVK amid the wider dispute over Udhayanidhi’s remarks.

Also Read: Udhayanidhi Detained; DMK Insists His Speech Never Referred To Actor Trisha Directly