Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore on 11 November 2026 urged caution against declaring Kallakurichi TVK MLA Arul Vignesh guilty before a proper examination of allegations that he sent obscene messages to the district's woman Collector. Speaking at a press conference in Chennai, Tagore said the MLA's denial of wrongdoing must be weighed before conclusions are drawn.

Tagore's Defence of Due Process

Tagore questioned what he termed a 'media trial' of Arul Vignesh, noting that the MLA had denied the allegations and had himself requested scrutiny of CCTV footage and his mobile phone. 'The MLA has explained. He has asked for CCTV footage to be examined and his phone to be checked. When he denies the allegations, how is it fair to speak as though his guilt has already been established?' Tagore said.

He emphasised that his position was not a defence of any individual but a principled objection to premature declarations of guilt — insisting that the MLA's explanation deserved examination before any judgement was passed.

On the Collector's Alleged Complaint

When asked about reports that the Collector had lodged a complaint with the Chief Secretary, Tagore sought specific details of the purported complaint and urged journalists to place the relevant information in the public domain. He pointed out that routine administrative communication between Collectors and the Chief Secretary was standard practice and could not by itself establish the nature or seriousness of a complaint against any individual.

Separating the Udhayanidhi Controversy

Tagore firmly rejected attempts to draw a parallel between the allegations against Arul Vignesh and remarks made by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin at a public meeting in Thanjavur. He condemned Udhayanidhi's remarks about a woman as offensive and unacceptable, noting they were delivered publicly before approximately 2,000 people and were captured on video. A publicly recorded speech and a denied allegation, he argued, were not equivalent and should not be conflated to cast collective guilt.

Deputy Speaker Assault Allegation

Addressing a separate allegation of assault involving the Deputy Speaker, Tagore said police must act if the alleged victim had filed a formal complaint. 'Whoever the victim may be, police must act on a complaint. There is no difference of opinion on that,' he said. He stressed that the two separate incidents should be examined on their own merits and not bundled together.

Divided Response Within Congress

Tagore's remarks come amid a visible split within the Indian National Congress (INC) over the controversy. Congress MPs Jothimani and Sudha had earlier strongly criticised Arul Vignesh over the alleged obscene messages, placing themselves at odds with Tagore's more measured stance. Notably, the divergence highlights the delicate balancing act for the Congress in Tamil Nadu, where it maintains an alliance with the ruling DMK even as the TVK — the party to which Arul Vignesh belongs — occupies a distinct political space. How the Congress navigates this internal difference will likely shape its credibility on women's safety issues ahead of future electoral contests.