Chennai, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s alleged body-shaming gesture in the Assembly, with the DMK and AIADMK questioning his conduct and accusing him of failing to maintain the decorum expected from the Chief Minister.
The controversy intensified after DMK president M.K. Stalin criticised the gesture, which was interpreted by the ruling TVK camp as a personal jibe at him. Vijay later clarified that the gesture was not intentional.
Stalin said the alleged gesture reminded him of the treatment he endured during the Emergency, when he was attacked by police personnel while in prison and suffered injuries to his jawbones.
Reacting to the controversy, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan launched a sharp attack on Vijay, questioning his conduct inside the House.
“He has become a comedian. People watching him speak in the Assembly say, ‘What a foolish act he is doing.’ As a Chief Minister, he is responsible. He should behave properly. He should speak on subjects raised in the House,” Elangovan said.
He also alleged that Vijay had failed to respond adequately to questions raised by the Opposition during the Assembly session, particularly those concerning the Home Minister.
Elangovan further targeted the TVK-led coalition, named the ‘Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance’, questioning whether its functioning reflected the principles represented by the name.
He alleged that people associated with TVK were involved in the purchase or alleged misappropriation of temple land worth hundreds of crores of rupees and questioned the coalition’s claim of secularism. These allegations were made as part of the DMK’s political attack.
The AIADMK also criticised Vijay’s conduct, with National Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan saying there was “little difference” between the DMK and TVK beyond their names and accusing both parties of relying heavily on publicity.
Sathyan also targeted Stalin over his overseas trips, alleging that Vijay was following a similar approach by undertaking a trip in the name of attracting investments while spending public money. The allegations are part of the ongoing political exchange between the parties.
However, Sathyan said the central issue was the need to maintain the dignity of the Assembly.
“Whatever was stated in the Assembly cannot be negated. But yes, there is a certain decorum that must be maintained in the Assembly. Mr Vijay, being the Chief Minister of the state, could have at least ensured that there was sufficient decorum inside the Assembly,” he said.
Sathyan further accused Vijay of treating the Assembly like a film set rather than a forum requiring the highest standards of conduct.
The controversy stems from Vijay’s alleged “jaw” gesture during an Assembly speech, which the DMK viewed as a mockery of Stalin. Vijay subsequently said the gesture was not intentional, but the incident has since become another flashpoint in the increasingly charged political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu.
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