Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday (September 7, 2026) questioned why the DMK should continue in politics if it lacked the mindset to accept the verdict of the people.
Recalling a senior DMK leader’s comment (outside the House) that people would “not have a good death” because they had not voted for the DMK, the Chief Minister wondered how he could make such a statement when the same people had voted for the DMK for nearly 50 years.
“I am not able to understand how he is able to speak like that,” he said while replying to the demands for grants for the Police and Fire and Rescue Services departments.
Tumultuous scenes in Tamil Nadu Assembly as CM Vijay attacks DMK invoking Sarkaria Commission, Veeranam scandal
The Chief Minister departed from his prepared text at 9.56 a.m., adopting a different tone and body language as he launched a scathing attack on the DMK.
“In the past, Jayalalithaa, as a woman, was subjected to a lot of humiliation, including in the Assembly. It was because of the present Opposition party (DMK). We are particular that such incidents should not occur in the future,” he said.
CM Vijay calls for ‘political decency’
Alleging that some senior politicians were justifying misogynistic and hateful speeches on the ground that they were nothing compared with what they had said in the past, Mr. Vijay said there was no need for obscene, hateful, and “rusted” speeches.
“Let us keep only the good things of the past. We should maintain political decency and decorum to an extent. It is up to them to take it or not,” he said.
He said in recent times in Tamil Nadu “flows a river of obscene and vendetta” and people were watching speeches containing “double and triple” meanings directed at women. He made a strong case for refraining from such remarks, as “women are our mothers and sisters.”
“It is women who gave me my previous position and the present position. Law will do its duty if anyone resorts to obscene speeches against women,” he warned.
Mr. Vijay also ridiculed the claim by a senior DMK leader that the party had faced MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency period), saying everyone knew the history behind it.
“People know what happened and what is going to happen. Are we the best commentators than the people?” he asked.
The Chief Minister went on to quote late poet Kannadasan’s words about the DMK: “They are used to uttering lies; used to collection and keeping in their pocket.”
‘TVK’s identity is Tamil Nadu’
He said the TVK government would not be identified with any individual.
“Our identity is Tamil, Tamils, and Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is my house and the eight crore people are my relatives. It will be the identity of eight crore Tamils,” he said, recalling an MGR song which said that those who claimed to work for the welfare of the people in reality cared only for their own people.
“Let me give a positive twist to MGR’s words. Our objective is the welfare of the Tamil people. That was why I said we will not touch a single paise, will not allow anyone to touch it and will not spare those who take it away,” he said.