TVK minister's 'bathroom' jab after Udhayanidhi's 'sanghi' charge in Assembly

A tense situation unfolded in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday after Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin referred to TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar as a "Sanghi Minister" during a heated exchange.

In Short

• Udhayanidhi criticised Assembly proceedings likening it to a 'Super Singer event'
• He challenged CM Vijay to make corruption files of previous DMK regime public
• Assembly saw heated exchanges over corruption, debt and State Budget issues

Heated scenes played out in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday after Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin referred to TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar as a “Sanghi Minister”. Kumar hit back, calling Stalin a “Bathroom Minister”, an apparent jibe at his arrest from home following his controversial remarks allegedly targeting actor Trisha earlier this month.

CTR Nirmal Kumar moved from the BJP to Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in January 2025, after a brief stint with the AIADMK.

Earlier during the debate in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi challenged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to make public the alleged corruption files linked to the previous DMK regime.

Udhayanidhi questioned whether the Assembly had become a “Super Singer event” and criticised the Chief Minister's remarks about files concerning the previous government.

“Don’t know if we have come to the Assembly or Super Singer event,” Udhayanidhi said.

He referred to Vijay's earlier statement that several files were on his table and that the government should not be forced to open them.

Udhayanidhi urged the Chief Minister to release the files and questioned whether he was waiting for an astrologer to identify an appropriate time.

“Open those files. Don’t do cinema punch dialogues,” Udhayanidhi said, issuing an open challenge to the Chief Minister.

He said the DMK would not be intimidated by threats and asked Vijay to release the files if he had evidence to support the allegations.

“If you have proof, release it,” Udhayanidhi said.

Udhayanidhi also questioned why the government had not allowed live coverage of the Assembly proceedings. He referred to Minister Aadhav Arjuna and asked why the government had not shown the courage to provide live coverage.

He also referred to Minister Bussy Anand's remark that people were no longer watching serials and were instead watching Assembly proceedings.

Udhayanidhi further raised concerns about selective clips from Assembly proceedings being circulated on social media even after the Speaker removed a particular word from the official proceedings. He questioned what solution existed for such clips being made viral.

The exchange came after Vijay had said on Wednesday that he would reveal alleged corruption-related files from the previous DMK government at an “appropriate time”. His remarks came during a heated exchange between TVK and DMK legislators over alleged irregularities in road-laying works.

Responding to the repeated demand for proof, Vijay said: “They are asking for proof, proof. About a week ago, when the Finance Minister was speaking, he said that the files had been reviewed by three departments and that all those files were on my table. He didn’t say that casually. They really are on my table. Everything is there with proof. Don’t make us open them up. Whenever they are opened, everything will come out properly.”

Udhayanidhi responded by saying that his remarks concerned the issue raised in the Assembly and asked the House to take note of what had appeared in the media.

“What I said was about the issue that was raised. Please take note of what has appeared in the media regarding this. Action will certainly be taken against him, and I would like to state this on behalf of the Assembly,” he said.

Udhayanidhi then referred to Vijay's statement about the three departmental reviews and reiterated his challenge.

“After that, as the Chief Minister himself said, there are those three reviews. I am not issuing some kind of challenge; I am making an open challenge. Let the Chief Minister continue to look into it and see against whom action can be taken. If the allegations are genuine and supported by evidence, he should take action,” Udhayanidhi said.

The exchange triggered heated arguments between DMK and TVK MLAs, leading to sloganeering and a brief disruption in the House before proceedings resumed.

- Ends