Stalin alleges TVK opposes Udhayanidhi’s entry into Assembly
Stalin questioned shifting the accused to Thanjavur and invoking tougher charges, alleging the move was intended to hinder bail.
- Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested on August 4 from his Chennai home over remarks made at a Cauvery protest in Thanjavur.
- FIR registered under multiple BNS sections, TN Women Harassment Act and IT Act following a TVK complaint.
- Madras High Court directed his release on the same day; government said it would not seek judicial remand.
- M.K. Stalin alleged the arrest was a diversion from the TVK government’s handling of the Cauvery water dispute.
- DMK staged protests across Tamil Nadu; several cadres were detained during demonstrations.
- The National Commission for Women sought an explanation and apology over the alleged misogynistic remarks.
DMK president M.K. had been exposed over its handling of the Cauvery water dispute.
The arrest came after a DMK-led protest in Thanjavur on Monday over the Cauvery water issue, where Udhayanidhi criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s handling of the dispute. Later, during the rally, sections of the crowd chanted the name of actor Trisha Krishnan, prompting Udhayanidhi to make remarks that were described by police and the TVK as obscene and double-meaning. A TVK functionary, S. Bhairavi, filed a complaint at the Thanjavur East Police Station, leading to an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and the Information Technology Act.
On Tuesday morning, a joint team of Thanjavur and Neelankarai police arrived at Udhayanidhi’s residence in Neelankarai, Chennai, and took him into custody for questioning. He was escorted to Thanjavur, where he was held for several hours. The Madras High Court, hearing his anticipatory bail petition, directed police to release him on the same day after recording his statement, noting that the government did not intend to seek judicial remand.
M.K. Stalin condemned the arrest as politically motivated, accusing the TVK government of using police action to shift attention from what he called its failure to protect Tamil Nadu’s interests in the Cauvery dispute. “The government does not want Udhayanidhi in the Tamil Nadu Assembly,” he said, alleging the move was timed ahead of the budget session. He warned that “arrogance paves the way for destruction,” and demanded the immediate release of all detained DMK cadres across the state.
The incident has sparked a sharp political row. DMK workers staged protests in several districts, leading to multiple detentions. The TVK, meanwhile, defended the police action, saying no one is above the law and that alleged misogynistic remarks against a woman cannot be ignored. The National Commission for Women also sought an explanation and an apology from Udhayanidhi, adding another layer to the controversy.
For many voters, the episode raises uncomfortable questions about the tone of political discourse, the treatment of women in public life, and the use of state machinery in settling scores. Supporters of Udhayanidhi see the arrest as harassment of the Opposition; critics say his remarks were unacceptable regardless of the context. The Cauvery issue, already a flashpoint between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, now risks being overshadowed by this legal and political battle at home.