A tense moment unfolded in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly after forest minister RV Ranjith Kumar referred to former chief minister and DMK stalwart M Karunanidhi simply as “Karunanidhi” during a debate, without using the customary honorific “Kalaignar” or referring to him as a former chief minister.
The remark immediately drew objections from members of the opposition DMK, who protested the minister’s choice of words. The issue arose during a discussion on the demands for grants for the health and revenue departments.
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Minister speaks about ‘Thirumangalam formula’
Kumar was discussing alleged cash-for-votes practices during previous elections and referred to what is popularly known as the “Thirumangalam formula”.
During his speech, the minister claimed that voters in his Kancheepuram constituency had received as much as ₹1,500 per vote during earlier elections. He contrasted those elections with the current administration, arguing that the present government had secured power without distributing money to voters in return for their votes.
While describing different electoral strategies and alleged cash-for-vote practices, Kumar referred to Karunanidhi only by his name.
DMK members raise objections
The reference triggered an immediate reaction from DMK members in the House. Party legislators objected to the minister’s use of Karunanidhi’s name without the customary title.
In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, senior political leaders and former chief ministers are often referred to using formal titles or honorifics. Karunanidhi, who served as Tamil Nadu chief minister multiple times and remained one of the DMK’s most influential leaders, is widely referred to by party members and supporters as “Kalaignar”.
Former minister KKSSR Ramachandran was among those who led the objections as the situation inside the Assembly became increasingly tense.
Vijay steps in to calm the situation
As the protests continued, Vijay intervened while the minister was speaking. He sought to bring the exchange under control and acknowledged that the manner in which the late leader had been referred to was inappropriate.
Vijay then apologised to the members on behalf of the minister.
“I apologise on his behalf,” Vijay said, helping to defuse the confrontation and bring the tension in the Assembly to an end.
The intervention prevented the disagreement from escalating further during the debate.
Karunanidhi remains a major political figure
M Karunanidhi, one of the DMK’s longest-serving leaders, continues to hold a significant place in Tamil Nadu’s political history. He served as chief minister for five terms and led the DMK for several decades.
His honorific title, “Kalaignar”, meaning “artist” or “scholar”, became closely associated with his public and political identity. Consequently, references to him in formal political settings often include the title.
The Assembly episode highlighted how even a seemingly simple reference to a veteran political leader can trigger strong reactions in Tamil Nadu’s highly charged political environment.
Row ends after apology
The controversy was ultimately brought to a close after Vijay apologised on the minister’s behalf. The intervention helped ease tensions between the treasury benches and the opposition during the ongoing Assembly proceedings.
The incident also underlined the continuing sensitivity surrounding references to Karunanidhi, particularly within the Tamil Nadu Assembly where political history, personal legacies and party loyalties frequently intersect.
