DMK MLAs protest as Assembly turns into a battleground over corruption allegations
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly turned into a political battleground on Tuesday after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s remarks based on Enforcement Directorate (ED) documents triggered a massive confrontation with the opposition DMK. Several DMK MLAs were evicted from the House after their protest over Vijay’s statements disrupted proceedings.
The dramatic scenes unfolded as the opposition demanded that references made by the chief minister regarding ED documents, corruption allegations and past political controversies be removed from the Assembly records. The Speaker rejected the demand, resulting in heated exchanges, slogan shouting and a face-off between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and the DMK.
The controversy began after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay launched a strong political attack during his Assembly speech on Monday, citing documents linked to the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation.
Vijay targeted the previous DMK government over alleged irregularities connected with the state-run liquor retailer TASMAC. During his address, he referred to ED findings and raised allegations related to financial misconduct and corruption.
The chief minister also mentioned issues linked to the Sarkaria Commission and the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), bringing decades-old political controversies back into the Assembly debate.
The remarks immediately triggered a reaction from the DMK, which accused the government of using investigative agency documents for political attacks.
When the Assembly proceedings resumed on Tuesday, DMK Whip EV Velu raised objections against Vijay’s speech and demanded that certain portions be expunged from official records.
The opposition argued that references related to ED allegations, historical reports and previous political matters violated legislative procedures and should not remain part of the Assembly proceedings.
The Speaker, JCD Prabhakar, rejected the demand and maintained that the chief minister had referred to publicly available documents and matters that had already been discussed inside the House. The ruling led to further protests from DMK legislators.
Following the Speaker’s decision, several DMK MLAs moved towards the Speaker’s podium and began raising slogans. The opposition members continued their protest, demanding action on their request and objecting to the inclusion of Vijay’s remarks in the Assembly records.
As the disruption continued, Leader of the House KA Sengottaiyan called for action against the protesting legislators under Assembly rules. The Speaker subsequently directed the watch and ward staff to remove the protesting DMK MLAs from the House.
Assembly marshals escorted the legislators out while they continued raising slogans, turning the session into one of the most dramatic political confrontations in recent times.
Tamil Nadu Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar defended the chief minister’s remarks, stating that Vijay’s statements were based on official documents and previous reports.
The ruling TVK government argued that corruption allegations and administrative issues are legitimate subjects for discussion in a democratic Assembly. The DMK, however, maintained that political accusations should not be presented in a manner that damages reputations without final legal conclusions.
The Assembly clash has intensified the political rivalry between Chief Minister Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and the DMK. Since assuming power, Vijay has repeatedly positioned corruption and accountability as major political issues, targeting decisions and controversies linked to the previous administration.
The DMK has accused the government of focusing on political confrontation rather than addressing current governance challenges. The latest Assembly disruption highlights how corruption allegations, ED investigations and political narratives are becoming key factors in Tamil Nadu’s evolving political landscape.
The controversy surrounding Vijay’s remarks reflects a wider political trend where investigative agency reports have become central to electoral and legislative battles.
While the ruling party has used ED documents to question the previous government’s functioning, the opposition has challenged their interpretation and political use. The issue is expected to remain a major talking point among political parties and voters as Tamil Nadu moves towards future electoral contests.
The Assembly confrontation has generated significant public attention, with supporters of both parties debating whether the episode represents accountability or political escalation.
For TVK supporters, Vijay’s approach signals a tougher stance against alleged corruption. DMK supporters argue that political discussions must remain within democratic and procedural boundaries. The incident has once again placed Tamil Nadu’s political rivalry at the centre of national attention.
