Those who speak in a derogatory manner against women, irrespective of whether they are Opposition leaders, publishers of “yellow magazine”, or those operating fake accounts on social media platforms, would be identified and arrested, said TVK general secretary (election campaign management) and Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting of MLAs of TVK and its alliance partners at the party headquarters in Panaiyur on the outskirts of Chennai ahead of the Budget session of the Assembly, Mr. Arjuna said this remains the TVK’s foremost policy and “just as corruption was being eliminated,” the culture of insulting women should also be eradicated.

He said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had never indulged in personal criticism. “Our leader [Vijay] had referred to former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin as ‘Stalin Uncle’ once during a speech in Madurai, purely in the context of a relationship, and had stopped using the expression thereafter.”

He said Mr. Vijay, while criticising the DMK, had spoken only about dynastic politics, abuse of power, and corruption allegations, and had never spoken ill of women. “Neither the leaders nor the cadre of the TVK had ever made any derogatory remarks about women. That is how our leader has brought us up,” he said.

He said DMK founder C.N. Annadurai built the party by speaking about social justice. “Although Kalaignar [M. Karunanidhi] also spoke about social justice, he made derogatory remarks about women. He also spoke disparagingly about former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,” he claimed.

Mr. Arjuna also alleged that DMK leaders resorted to personal attacks when Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister. “Mr. Udhayanidhi is living with the arrogance of being the grandson of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the son of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He should first read the book Pen Yen Adimayanal, written by Periyar [E.V. Ramasamy],” Mr. Arjuna said.

“This arrogance stemmed from his birth, and that has made Mr. Stalin confine himself to his house even after forging a 26-party alliance and spending ₹40 crore in each constituency,” he claimed.

Challenging Mr. Udhayanidhi to resign and recontest from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency, Mr. Arjuna said, “The TVK would field an ordinary woman candidate against him. If our Chief Minister campaigned there even once, Mr. Udhayanidhi would forfeit even his deposit,” he added.

Published - August 04, 2026 09:19 pm IST