CM Vijay, Udhayanidhi Trade Barbs Over Assembly Walkout

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly witnessed a dramatic verbal duel on Thursday as Chief Minister Vijay and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin exchanged sharp barbs, turning the session into a heated political spectacle. The confrontation stemmed from the DMK’s history of staging walkouts during assembly proceedings, with the Chief Minister taking a pointed dig at the practice before answering questions from the opposition benches.

CM Vijay’s Challenge to the Opposition

Addressing the House, Vijay said he was prepared to respond to every question raised by the opposition, but only if DMK members committed to staying seated instead of walking out midway, as they reportedly had in earlier sessions. He indicated he would deliver a detailed, point-by-point reply on Monday, provided the opposition honoured that assurance.

Udhayanidhi’s Sharp Counter

Udhayanidhi Stalin hit back almost immediately, turning the Chief Minister’s own words against him. He pointed out that it was Vijay who had left the House shortly after making the remark, asking pointedly who had actually “run away” this time. The exchange triggered loud protests and a brief uproar among members from both sides.

Beyond the theatrics, the session carried substantive business. The Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution, moved by Vijay, urging the Union government to recognise Tamil as the principal language of the Madras High Court. Vijay clarified the move was not directed against any other language. Former ministers and DMK leaders backed the resolution, framing it within a broader north-south language debate and invoking past efforts by leaders like M. Karunanidhi to elevate Tamil’s official standing in the judiciary.