English
English
English
DMK in hot water, in fact this is not for the first time. (Photo: Dynamite News)
Chennai: DMK has always taken its ideas and inspiration from the great Indian feminists Dr BR Ambedkar and EV Ramasamy aka Thandhai Periyar. But this time again, its legs slipped off the floor. On Tuesday, former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested over derogatory remarks against Tamil actress and TVK chief, Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay’s close friend Trisha Krishnan. Udhayanidhi, former CM’s son has been detained under various BNS charges. The latest controversy has erupted in a public rally in Thanjavur, where the crowd reportedly chanted Trisha’s name and made an indirect double-entendre comment. Udhayanidhiseen said, "Whether the water reaches anywhere else or not, it should reach there," before adding that he meant the Cauvery river.”
However, this is not for the first time DMK, Tamil Nadu’s oldest Dravidian party has been facing criticisms over women related row.
One of the darkest chapters in Tamil Nadu's political history unfolded on March 25, 1989, inside the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Then Leader of the Opposition J. Jayalalithaa said that she was physically assaulted during a chaotic budget session led by then DMK Leader and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
As heated exchanges escalated, Jayalalithaa claimed that members of the ruling DMK pushed and heckled her, and that her saree was pulled inside the House. Emerging from the Assembly visibly shaken, she compared the incident to the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata.
The incident became a critical moment in Tamil Nadu politics. Jayalalithaa declared that she would not step into the Assembly again until she returned as Chief Minister, a promise she fulfilled after winning the 1991 Assembly elections.
Dravidian party has also faced sustained criticism over its perceived support for celebrated lyricist Vairamuthu, who has been accused of sexual harassment by singer Chinmayi Sripaada and several other women under the #MeToo movement.
Chinmayi has repeatedly questioned why prominent DMK leaders continued to share public platforms with Vairamuthu despite the allegations. Women's rights groups and opposition parties also criticised the party after Chief Minister M.K. Stalin publicly congratulated the lyricist on various occasions.
DMK government has maintained that legal action can only be initiated if a formal complaint is filed before the authorities. It has argued that no official complaint was registered against Vairamuthu under the current administration, and therefore due process must be followed.
However, critics argue that the party's continued public association with the lyricist sends the wrong message to survivors of sexual harassment.
The latest controversy erupted during a DMK protest in Thanjavur over the Cauvery water dispute. As sections of the crowd reportedly chanted actor Trisha's name, Udhayanidhi Stalin responded with a remark saying that water should "reach there" before clarifying that he was referring to the Cauvery river.
Opposition parties, including the ruling TVK, accused the DMK leader of making an objectionable double entendre targeting the actor. The remarks triggered widespread criticism on social media, with women's groups demanding accountability.
However, DMK has defended Udhayanidhi, insisting that his statement was taken out of context and contained no vulgar reference. Party leaders have described the controversy as politically motivated, while the opposition argues that the episode reflects a broader pattern of insensitive remarks involving women.
