Tamil Nadu BJP chief urges CM Vijay to end drug menace after Rajapalayam murder
Synopsis
A Hindu Munnani functionary was allegedly stabbed to death near a police station in Rajapalayam by intoxicated youths — and Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran is using the killing to mount a direct challenge to CM C. Joseph Vijay, accusing the TVK government of letting a 'drug culture' flourish while chasing social media clout.
Key Takeaways
Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthran on 30 August urged Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay to urgently address alcohol and drug abuse in the state.
Hindu Munnani functionary Thanigasalam was allegedly stabbed to death near the old bus stand in Rajapalayam by reportedly intoxicated youths, outside a police station.
Nagenthran claimed the TVK government's closure of 717 TASMAC outlets had failed to curb youth drinking or drug-related crime.
Social media videos reportedly showed open consumption of alcohol and drugs — including by school students — over the past three months , according to the BJP chief.
Nagenthran demanded stronger policing, intensified action against drug networks, and measures to prevent narcotics from reaching young people.
Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nainar Nagenthran on 30 August called on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to take urgent steps to curb alcohol and drug abuse in the state, citing deteriorating law and order following the murder of a Hindu Munnani functionary in Rajapalayam. The killing, he alleged, was carried out by a group of intoxicated youths — underscoring what he described as a deepening 'drug culture' threatening Tamil Nadu's youth.
The Rajapalayam Murder
Thanigasalam, a functionary of the Hindu Munnani organisation, was allegedly stabbed to death near the old bus stand in Rajapalayam while waiting for a bus. According to Nagenthran, a group of reportedly intoxicated youths chased and fatally stabbed him outside a police station. The BJP leader described the incident as 'heartbreaking' in a post on social media platform X and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.
BJP's Charge Against the TVK Government
Nagenthran alleged that Chief Minister Vijay — who had projected himself as a 'pure force' before assuming office — had allowed the state to fall under the grip of what he termed a 'drug force'. He pointed out that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagham (TVK) government had repeatedly cited its decision to shut 717 TASMAC liquor outlets as a key reform, but claimed the measure had neither meaningfully reduced youth alcohol consumption nor brought down drug-related crime.
The BJP chief also alleged that criminals no longer feared law-enforcement machinery, and that social media videos circulating over the past three months reportedly showed alcohol and narcotics being consumed openly — including by school students.
Governance and Priorities Under Scrutiny
Nagenthran accused the Chief Minister and his ministers of prioritising social media content over substantive governance. He alleged that the government's publicity campaigns had not translated into effective ground-level action, and that the ruling party was spending time making what he called 'irrelevant allegations' against opposition parties rather than focusing on public safety.
What Nagenthran Has Demanded
The state BJP president called on Chief Minister Vijay to strengthen policing, intensify crackdowns on drug networks, and introduce targeted measures to prevent alcohol and narcotics from reaching young people. He urged the state government to treat the issue as an urgent social and law-and-order challenge, warning that decisive action was necessary to safeguard the future of Tamil Nadu's youth and restore public confidence in the administration.
Point of View
Local hook for a broader political argument it has been building against the TVK government's governance record. The closure of 717 TASMAC outlets — a headline reform — is now being turned against Vijay as evidence of optics over outcomes. What is missing from this debate is independent data on whether drug-related crime has actually risen under the TVK administration, or whether the BJP is amplifying isolated incidents for electoral traction. The real accountability question is for both sides: the government must show measurable outcomes from its liquor policy, and the opposition must base its law-and-order claims on verified crime statistics rather than social media videos.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran demanding action from CM Vijay?
Nagenthran is demanding action after Hindu Munnani functionary Thanigasalam was allegedly stabbed to death in Rajapalayam by a group of reportedly intoxicated youths. He cited the killing as evidence of worsening law and order and a growing drug and alcohol menace under the TVK government.
Who was Thanigasalam and how was he killed?
Thanigasalam was a functionary of the Hindu Munnani organisation. According to Nagenthran, he was waiting for a bus near the old bus stand in Rajapalayam when a group of allegedly intoxicated youths chased and fatally stabbed him outside a police station.
What has the TVK government done on alcohol and drugs so far?
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagham government has highlighted its decision to close 717 TASMAC liquor outlets since assuming office. However, Nagenthran alleged that the measure had not significantly reduced youth alcohol consumption or brought down drug-related crime.
What specific steps has Nagenthran demanded from the Tamil Nadu government?
Nagenthran has called for strengthened policing, intensified crackdowns on drug networks, and targeted measures to prevent alcohol and narcotic substances from reaching young people. He urged the government to treat the issue as an urgent social and law-and-order priority.
What did Nagenthran say on social media platform X?
Nagenthran posted on X describing the Rajapalayam stabbing as 'heartbreaking' and conveyed condolences to Thanigasalam's family. He also alleged in the post that the incident exposed serious deterioration in law and order and the growing boldness of criminals in Tamil Nadu.
