Tamil Nadu Minister Keerthana on 19 October 2026 strongly condemned alleged derogatory remarks made by a DMK women's wing functionary against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at a public meeting in Chennai, calling out Member of Parliament Kanimozhi and Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan for failing to intervene while seated on the dais. The controversy erupted after video clips of the speech circulated widely on social media, triggering protests from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) supporters across the state.

What Was Said at the Meeting

According to reports, the DMK women's wing functionary allegedly used derogatory language against Chief Minister Vijay, repeatedly referring to him as a 'dog' during her address. She also alleged that the TVK administration had merely continued subsidy schemes introduced by the previous government headed by M.K. Stalin, rather than delivering on its own election promises. The remarks drew immediate outrage from TVK workers, who demanded police action against the speaker and others present on the platform.

Keerthana's Sharply Worded Condemnation

In a pointed social media statement, Minister Keerthana accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of tolerating personal attacks against a democratically elected Chief Minister. She alleged that Mayor Priya was seen laughing during the speech, while Kanimozhi remained seated without registering even a token objection. Some reports, however, described Kanimozhi as appearing visibly uncomfortable during the remarks.

Keerthana questioned whether the conduct of the two senior DMK leaders was consistent with the progressive political values the party claims to uphold. 'Frustration over electoral defeat,' she argued, could not justify insulting an elected Chief Minister or appearing to take pleasure in such attacks from a public platform.

The Accountability Argument

The minister broadened her criticism beyond the immediate incident, linking it to what she described as a pattern of remarks by DMK leaders against women. She argued that political figures — particularly women in public life — carried a responsibility to uphold dignity and accountability in public discourse, and that merely occupying a platform was insufficient without maintaining those standards.

Notably, Keerthana also drew a connection to the DMK's recent bypoll defeats, suggesting that voters had already begun registering their disapproval of the party's conduct at the ballot box.

TVK Demands and What Comes Next

TVK workers have demanded that police register a case against the functionary and others who shared the platform during the speech. The party has urged Kanimozhi and Mayor Priya Rajan to publicly condemn the remarks. Keerthana warned that voters were closely watching the conduct of DMK leaders and would respond decisively in future elections. As of now, neither Kanimozhi nor Priya Rajan has issued a public statement on the matter.