Stalin pulls up DMK MLAs over ‘frivolous’ speeches in budget session

The DMK president, M K Stalin, has reprimanded several party members, including MLA K Karthikeyan, for their behavior during the budget session, according to TOI sources. Stalin expressed dissatisfaction with the way some MLAs, including former ministers, used the debates to highlight their connections with influential figures rather than focusing on scrutinizing the TVK government's policies and shortcomings.

During the session, Karthikeyan mentioned that he was elected to the assembly because of his relationship with public works minister Aadhav Arjuna, who was previously associated with the DMK's election strategy team. The proceedings were live-streamed and viewed by thousands, so Stalin questioned the purpose of the MLAs' jests and frivolous comments.

Senior DMK leaders, including former chief minister O Panneerselvam and former ministers Thangam Thennarasu and M R K Panneerselvam, were chosen to participate in the budget debate. The House laughed when Panneerselvam described opposition leader K N Nehru as a farmer with vast land holdings, and when Panneerselvam himself mentioned the farming credentials of party colleague E V Velu, eliciting laughter from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Former DMK minister S Regupathy, who once served in the J Jayalalithaa cabinet, reminisced about his time in the AIADMK and wished to see his friend J C D Prabhakar, an MGR loyalist, seated as speaker. Stalin emphasized that members should avoid frivolity, focus on the subjects under discussion, and specifically expose the failures of the TVK government.