3 weeks ago
AIADMK's Udhayakumar Uses Trisha Jibe to Target CM Vijay
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, politicians from different parties often argue with each other.
Lately, they have been arguing about getting river water from the neighbouring state of Karnataka.
Some politicians have also been saying unkind things about a famous actress named Trisha.
Trisha has acted in many movies with Vijay, who is an actor and now also the Chief Minister.
A leader from the AIADMK party, RB Udhayakumar, joked at a meeting: "When will Trisha be made Deputy Chief Minister?"
He said the government was giving important official jobs to people who worked in Vijay's films, while criticising the government over water.
About a week before that, another politician, Udhayanidhi Stalin, was arrested after making a remark with a double meaning about Trisha at a water protest.
He was questioned and then released.
Trisha's fans were angry and put up protest posters in the city of Madurai.
Both politicians deny they meant anything rude, saying they were only criticising the government.
Many people think leaders should not use an actress's name to attack their rivals.
Senior AIADMK leader RB Udhayakumar mocked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, asking when actor Trisha, his frequent co-star, would be appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
The remarks were made at a Jayalalithaa Peravai meeting in Thoothukudi on August 8 while criticising the government over the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka.
He alleged the TVK government was appointing producers and technical crew members from Vijay's films to official posts, naming temple trustee, special representative in New Delhi, personal secretary to CM, and head of state film training institute among others.
The jibe came about a week after Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested and later released by a court over an alleged double-meaning remark about Trisha at a Cauvery protest rally.
Trisha's fans put up protest posters across Madurai, the TVK women's wing filed a police complaint in Thanjavur, and both the DMK and Udhayanidhi denied making any objectionable comment.
- Who
- Senior AIADMK leader RB Udhayakumar made sarcastic remarks about actor Trisha targeting Chief Minister Vijay; Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was involved in an earlier controversy over Trisha.
- What
- Udhayakumar asked when Trisha would be appointed Deputy Chief Minister while criticising the TVK government over the Cauvery water dispute and the appointment of Vijay's film associates to official government positions.
- Where
- Thoothukudi (AIADMK meeting), Madurai (fan protests), Thanjavur (police complaint) and Chennai (media reports) in Tamil Nadu.
- When
- Udhayakumar spoke on August 8 at the AIADMK meeting; Udhayanidhi Stalin's controversial remark came about a week earlier.
- Why
- To criticise the Tamil Nadu government over the Cauvery water issue and political appointments of people from the cinema industry connected to Chief Minister Vijay.
Critics condemn remarks as misogynistic
Leaders defend remarks as political criticism
Trisha as a political target
Critics condemn remarks as misogynistic
Fans and the TVK say using Trisha's name to attack rivals is objectionable and misogynistic; the Trisha Fans Association staged protests with posters across Madurai.
Leaders defend remarks as political criticism
AIADMK and DMK say the remarks were political criticism of the government's failures, including the Cauvery water release and appointments from the cinema industry, and were misrepresented.
Udhayanidhi Stalin's comment
Critics condemn remarks as misogynistic
The TVK women's wing filed a complaint with the Thanjavur Police alleging a double-entendre remark targeting Trisha; Udhayanidhi was arrested and later released by the court after questioning.
Leaders defend remarks as political criticism
Udhayanidhi denied making an objectionable comment, and the DMK says the remarks were directed at the government's functioning, not at any individual.
Key facts
- Speaker
- RB Udhayakumar, senior AIADMK leader and former minister
- Remark
- Asked when actor Trisha, co-star of Vijay in many films, will be appointed Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister
- Event
- Jayalalithaa Peravai meeting with AIADMK cadres in Thoothukudi
- Date
- August 8
- Context
- Government's failure to get Karnataka to release Cauvery water as ordered by the Cauvery Water Management Authority
- Appointments criticised
- Temple trustee, special representative in New Delhi, personal secretary to CM, head of state film training institute, government advisors, and producer Archana Kalapathy's appointment to an HR&CE seven-member state-level committee
- Earlier controversy
- Udhayanidhi Stalin's alleged double-meaning remark about Trisha at a Cauvery protest; he was arrested and released by the court after questioning
- Reactions
- Posters by Trisha Fans Association across Madurai; police complaint by TVK women's wing in Thanjavur; DMK says remarks were misrepresented
Quotes
RB Udhayakumar
Senior AIADMK leader
“"Tamil Nadu awaits to see when Vijay's 'beloved' Trisha will be appointed as Deputy Chief Minister,"”
NDTV
Sources
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