AIADMK leader’s jibe at govt with Trisha remarks triggers row

A political uproar broke out in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday following remarks by senior AIADMK leader and former minister RB Udhayakumar allegedly at the expense of the state government. The controversy centered around a reference to actress Trisha Krishnan, according to members of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's local unit in Thoothukudi, who lodged a complaint against Udhayakumar.

This incident follows a week after former deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin faced arrest for comments he reportedly made at a public rally in Thanjavur on August 4. The alleged comments were captured in a video, with Udhayakumar reportedly questioning a trend where members of the film industry who had previously worked with or were associated with CM C Vijay Joseph were being appointed to senior administrative roles in the government.

The clip, which HT has seen, showed Udhayakumar saying, "Now government appointments are turning into a major controversy as producers and technical artists who worked with our CM (C Joseph) Vijay films are currently quietly appointed in government positions." He then added, "Annai (Mother) Tamil Nadu is now waiting in shock and anticipation to see when an announcement will be made appointing our chief minister’s beloved Trisha as the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu."

Trisha Krishnan's fan clubs in Madurai responded by pasting posters condemning Udhayakumar's remarks, stating that "Women are the eyes of our Nation. We strongly condemn the comments of the former minister."