CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam on Monday (September 7, 2026) took strong exception to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s remarks in the Assembly on DMK president M.K. Stalin, accusing him of body-shaming the DMK president over the broken jaw he suffered during his detention under the MISA, when Emergency was imposed in India.

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“The country knows the history of the struggles to protect democracy and the repressive measures and excesses unleashed during the Emergency. Mr. Stalin was brutally attacked by the police, and his jaw was broken. It is condemnable, however great they may be, to ridicule him. The act of the Chief Minister is irresponsible,” Mr. Shanmugam said in a post on X.

Mr. Shanmugam, whose party provides outside support to the ruling TVK, said though Mr. Vijay had replied to the demands for grants for the Police and Fire and Rescue Services Departments, his reply had failed to answer the questions raised by the MLAs.

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“Instead of speaking about issues concerning the people, his reply targeted the principal Opposition party. When all democratic organisations are under the clutches of the Enforcement Directorate, levelling allegations made by the agency is not appropriate,” Mr. Shanmugam said.

He said it was against the ethics of the Assembly to use the House to eulogise individuals and launch personal attacks. “Harsh personal attacks should be kept for meetings outside the Assembly. Wasting the time of the Assembly, which is run on taxpayers’ money, is unacceptable,” he added.