Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Stalin Calls Arrest Drama to Divert From Tamil Nadu Budget
In Tamil Nadu, a big fight happened between the government and the opposition.
The opposition leader, Udhayanidhi Stalin, was arrested at his home one morning.
The police said he said mean things about an actress named Trisha.
A court let him go free the same day.
He said the arrest was just a show to distract people from important issues like water for farmers.
The government shared its first budget that week.
Stalin called it a 'zero budget' and said old plans were only given new names.
The budget has money for gold schemes for families.
Both sides also disagree about a medical test called NEET.
The government wants to end NEET and let school marks decide who becomes a doctor.
DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested at his Chennai home on Tuesday over alleged derogatory remarks about actor Trisha and released the same day on the Madras High Court's direction.
Stalin called the arrest a 'drama' and a 'diversionary tactic' to stop him from raising the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues and to shift attention from the budget, while Chief Minister Vijay remained silent on the matter.
In the Assembly, Stalin dubbed the TVK government's first budget a 'zero budget' and accused the government of merely renaming DMK schemes such as the laptop scheme.
Finance Minister N Marie Wilson presented the budget, which allotted over Rs 1,300 crore for two gold assistance schemes and halted the practice of taking 'cut' in tenders.
The government reiterated its opposition to NEET, urging the Centre to scrap the test and return to Class 12 marks-based admissions, while Stalin criticized cases filed against students protesting the NEET paper leak.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Finance Minister N Marie Wilson
- What
- Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested over alleged derogatory remarks about actor Trisha, released by the Madras High Court, and then clashed with the Chief Minister as the TVK government presented its first budget
- When
- The arrest came on Tuesday morning; the Assembly clash and budget presentation followed on Wednesday
- Where
- Chennai and the Tamil Nadu Assembly
- Why
- Stalin said the arrest was staged to divert attention from state issues such as Cauvery and Mekedatu and from the government's first budget
DMK and Udhayanidhi Stalin
TVK Government Led by C Joseph Vijay
Arrest of Udhayanidhi Stalin
DMK and Udhayanidhi Stalin
Stalin says the arrest was a 'drama' and 'diversionary tactic' to stop him from raising the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues and to divert attention from the budget; his speech was cut, copied and pasted out of context.
TVK Government Led by C Joseph Vijay
The TVK government filed a complaint against Stalin over alleged derogatory remarks about actor Trisha, leading to his arrest and questioning.
The first state budget
DMK and Udhayanidhi Stalin
Stalin called it a 'zero budget' with no roadmap or announcements to fulfil election promises, and said its schemes were announced by the DMK and merely renamed, like the laptop scheme becoming the Vetri Laptop Scheme.
TVK Government Led by C Joseph Vijay
The government says the budget includes initiatives such as halting the practice of taking 'cut' in tenders and allots over Rs 1,300 crore for two gold assistance schemes.
NEET and protesting students
DMK and Udhayanidhi Stalin
Stalin attacked Vijay for filing cases against students who protested the NEET paper leak and accused the government of inaction on NEET.
TVK Government Led by C Joseph Vijay
The government opposes NEET and has urged the Centre to scrap the test and return to Class 12 marks-based medical admissions.
- Arrested Person
- Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK leader and Leader of Opposition
- Reason for Arrest
- Alleged derogatory remarks against actor Trisha following a TVK complaint
- Court Action
- Madras High Court directed the police to release him after questioning
- Stalin's Allegation
- Arrest was a 'drama' and 'diversionary tactic' over Cauvery-Mekedatu and the budget
- First Budget
- TVK government's first budget presented by Finance Minister N Marie Wilson
- Gold Assistance Schemes
- Over Rs 1,300 crore allotted for two schemes
- NEET Stance
- Government opposes NEET, urges Centre to scrap it and return to Class 12 marks-based admissions
- Stalin's Budget Verdict
- 'Zero budget' - schemes renamed from DMK schemes, like the laptop scheme
