Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay apologised in the state Assembly on Monday after Forest Minister RV Ranjith Kumar referred to former chief minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi only by his name during a debate.
The reference triggered immediate objections from opposition DMK members, who argued that the late leader should have been addressed with the customary honorific “Kalaignar” or as the former chief minister.
As tensions rose in the Assembly, CM Vijay intervened and apologised on behalf of the minister, bringing the controversy to an end.
What triggered the Assembly row?
The controversy erupted during a debate on the demands for grants for the health and revenue departments.
Kumar was speaking about alleged cash-for-votes practices in previous elections and referred to the “Thirumangalam formula”, a term associated with allegations of cash distribution to voters.
The minister claimed that voters in his Kancheepuram constituency had received as much as ₹1,500 per vote during earlier elections.
He contrasted those elections with the current administration, saying the government came to power without distributing money to voters in exchange for their votes.
During his remarks on different election strategies, Kumar referred to Karunanidhi simply as “Karunanidhi”, without using the customary terms “Kalaignar” or “former chief minister”.
DMK members object
The reference immediately drew objections from DMK members in the Assembly.
The party has traditionally used the honorific “Kalaignar”, meaning “artist/scholar”, when referring to Karunanidhi, who served as Tamil Nadu chief minister on multiple occasions and remained one of the DMK’s most influential leaders.
Former minister KKSSR Ramachandran was among those who strongly protested against Kumar’s wording.
CM Vijay intervenes
As the protests intensified, Chief Minister Vijay intervened while Kumar was speaking.
Vijay said the manner in which the late leader had been referred to was inappropriate and offered an apology on behalf of the minister.
“I apologise on his behalf,” Vijay said.
His intervention helped bring the situation under control and allowed the Assembly proceedings to continue.
Karunanidhi’s political legacy
Karunanidhi, who died in 2018, was one of Tamil Nadu’s longest-serving chief ministers and a central figure in the state’s Dravidian political movement.
The veteran DMK leader was also known for his work as a writer and screenwriter before and during his political career. His political legacy continues to have a strong influence on the DMK and Tamil Nadu politics.
The Assembly exchange highlighted the political sensitivity surrounding references to the former chief minister, particularly during debates involving the DMK’s electoral history and legacy.
