Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nainar Nagenthran on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, demanded the immediate removal of a Vinayagar idol installed at Korukkupet, Chennai, which he alleged was modelled on Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. Nagenthran claimed the idol, installed as part of Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations, had hurt the religious sentiments of devotees across the country.

What Nagenthran Alleged

In a formal statement, the BJP state president accused those behind the installation of exploiting a religious festival to promote a political personality. He argued that Vinayagar is revered and worshipped by crores of people across India, and that the deity's sacred image must not be altered for political publicity or the glorification of any individual leader.

Nagenthran warned that such depictions diminish the sanctity of religious worship and cause genuine pain to devout Hindus. He characterised the installation as an attempt to advance a partisan political message under the cover of a public festival.

What the BJP Demanded

The BJP leader called on the Tamil Nadu Police and the state government to identify all individuals responsible for designing, installing, and publicly displaying the idol. He demanded that criminal action be initiated against them without delay and that the idol be removed immediately to prevent any further offence to religious sensibilities.

Nagenthran also criticised Chief Minister Vijay for not publicly condemning the installation as soon as it came to light, arguing that the government bears a clear responsibility to ensure religious festivals are observed in a manner that protects established traditions.

Broader Context: Political Imagery at Public Festivals

The controversy has drawn renewed attention to a recurring tension in Tamil Nadu, where large Vinayagar idols — commissioned and installed by local groups — are paraded through neighbourhoods before immersion. The state has a long history of such festivals becoming sites of political expression, with competing groups occasionally using idol installations to signal allegiance or make cultural statements.

Notably, Vinayagar Chaturthi processions in Chennai and other urban centres have periodically sparked disputes over idol design and political associations. This is among the more direct allegations of a sitting chief minister's likeness being used on a religious deity.

Government and TVK Yet to Respond

As of the time of the BJP's statement, neither the Tamil Nadu government nor the TVK had issued any response to Nagenthran's allegations. It also remained unconfirmed whether any party functionaries were connected with the idol's installation. Nagenthran urged authorities to act impartially, regardless of the political affiliation of those involved.

The BJP's demands are expected to ignite a fresh round of political debate between the party and the ruling TVK in the days ahead, particularly as the Vinayagar Chaturthi season continues across the state.