Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin has issued a firm response to biting remarks made by the state’s current Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, in the legislative assembly. The political clash erupted following comments from CM Vijay that targeted Stalin’s son and Leader of the Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin.
According to a report by The Times of India, the verbal duel has significantly intensified the political atmosphere between the ruling administration and the opposition.
The Assembly Taunt and Storytelling Controversy
The friction began during the legislative proceedings when Chief Minister Vijay used his characteristic anecdotal narrative style while responding to the governor’s address. During his speech, the Chief Minister shared a short story mocking the opposition DMK’s electoral losses and indirectly drawing attention to the former chief minister’s absence from the legislative floor.
Reports from The Times of India highlight that Vijay specifically asked “where is your father?” while addressing the leader of the opposition. The political theater escalated further as the Chief Minister reportedly imitated a distinct hand gesture widely associated with Stalin that had previously gone viral on social media platforms. The sequence of events and allegations surrounding “party funds” triggered a strong reaction from DMK legislators, who staged a walkout in protest.
‘Appa Lives in the Hearts of the People’
Replying to the taunt during a public address in Tiruvarur, MK Stalin firmly dismissed the Chief Minister’s attempts to track his presence inside the house. Stalin emphasized that his political and administrative footprint extends far beyond the physical confines of the assembly building.
“The chief minister has asked, ‘Where is your father? We don’t see him.’ Whether I am present in the assembly or not, I remain etched in the minds of the people,” Stalin countered. He stated that his presence is deeply registered within the welfare of the public and the “people’s assembly.”
Legacy Encapsulated in State Welfare Schemes
Rather than looking for him on the legislative floor, the former chief minister challenged his critics to look at the state’s ongoing governance records. Stalin pointed out that his administrative legacy is permanently preserved within the documentation of crucial public service initiatives.
As noted by The Times of India, Stalin directed the Chief Minister to inspect the official files at Fort St. George (the Secretariat), specifically referencing key initiatives launched under his tenure, including the Kalaignar Rights Entitlement Scheme (Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam). Stalin concluded by asserting that as long as these foundational social welfare programs continue to serve the public, his impact and leadership remain actively woven into the fabric of the state.
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