Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nainar Nagenthran on 8 October 2026 launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's government over two separate alleged sexual assaults on young girls, accusing the administration of failing to protect children and demanding fast-track prosecution in the latest case. The criticism came via a post on X and signals mounting political pressure on the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government over law and order.

The Two Alleged Incidents

Nagenthran focused on the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old girl from a migrant worker's family in Chennai's Tiruvottiyur area, which he described as having caused widespread shock across Tamil Nadu. He noted that the Tiruvottiyur incident came to light even as the state had not fully recovered from an earlier alleged case in Gummidipoondi, where a three-year-old girl was reportedly sexually assaulted and thrown into thorny bushes. Both cases are alleged at this stage, and investigations are understood to be ongoing.

What Nagenthran Demanded

The BJP president called for the accused in the Tiruvottiyur case to be prosecuted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act through a fast-track court and given the maximum punishment permitted by law. He also urged the state government to ensure that the affected child receives high-quality medical treatment at the earliest. Nagenthran expressed particular concern over the safety of children from economically vulnerable migrant families who depend on Tamil Nadu for their livelihood.

BJP's Broader Law-and-Order Charge

Nagenthran alleged that repeated incidents of violence against women and children pointed to a deterioration in law and order under the Vijay administration. He accused the Chief Minister — who reportedly holds the police and home portfolios — of relying on 'empty promises' and allowing 'administrative inaction' to reach a point where citizens were taking to the streets to demand the arrest of offenders. He also alleged that what he termed administrative corruption and governmental inexperience had emboldened criminals and contributed to widespread lawlessness across the state.

Political Warning to the TVK Government

Nagenthran called on Chief Minister Vijay to abandon what he described as 'image politics' and give immediate priority to the safety of women and children in Tamil Nadu. He issued a pointed political warning, saying the people of Tamil Nadu would hold the TVK government accountable if it failed to restore law and order. This comes amid broader scrutiny of the relatively young TVK administration's handling of public safety, and the BJP's effort to position itself as a credible opposition voice in the state.