Published Aug 03, 2026 | 7:58 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 03, 2026 | 7:58 PM
Udhayanidhi Stalin. (X)
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin’s recent remarks about Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha have triggered a political controversy, drawing criticism from several quarters, which accused the DMK leader of belittling a woman. The episode is the latest in a series of controversies in which Udhayanidhi has been criticised for targeting women or the personal lives of his political rivals.
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin has found himself at the centre of controversy after his recent remarks about Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and actor Trisha during a protest over the Cauvery water-sharing issue in Thanjavur.
Addressing the gathering, Udhayanidhi criticised the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, accusing Vijay of prioritising politically motivated cases against the DMK instead of addressing people’s issues.
As he was speaking, party workers began chanting actor Trisha’s name. In response, Udhayanidhi remarked, “Even if water doesn’t come to our place, water must reach there. That’s all he cares about.”
The remark quickly went viral on social media. Several political leaders, including former Telangana Governor and senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, condemned the statement, saying it was derogatory towards women.
Others accused Udhayanidhi of belittling a woman and dragging a female actor into political discourse. The controversy is not the first time Udhayanidhi Stalin has faced criticism for remarks involving women.
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Even before becoming a Member of the Legislative Assembly, he had drawn criticism for statements that were perceived as targeting women or referring to the personal lives of political opponents.
During the 2021 Assembly election campaign, Udhayanidhi said then Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had “crawled like a dead body” to touch the feet of VK Sasikala.
A video of the speech went viral, drawing strong criticism from various quarters. AIADMK leaders condemned the remarks and later filed a defamation case against him.
More recently, after the TVK assumed office, Udhayanidhi, during an interaction with the media and in a post on his official X account, targeted the Chief Minister: “His (Vijay’s) rambling about telling a ‘kutty story’ is completely against the dignity of the Assembly. The story of a wife searching for her husband in the Chengalpattu court is known to the whole of Tamil Nadu.”
The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to the reported marital dispute between Vijay and his wife, Sangeetha Sornalingam, and sparked political controversy for bringing the Chief Minister’s personal life into public debate.
On the same day, while speaking to reporters, Udhayanidhi also said, “Soon, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLAs will even play item songs and dance to them inside the Assembly premises.”
That remark also drew criticism and became another political flashpoint.
