CHENNAI, India — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay delivered a high-energy speech during the final day of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly session on Tuesday, drawing widespread attention for his sharp criticism of the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and his signature cinematic style.
Before concluding his nearly 45-minute address, Chief Minister Vijay sought permission from Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar to make a symbolic hand gesture toward the opposition benches, many of which were vacant after DMK legislators walked out of the House. After receiving the Speaker’s approval, Vijay made the gesture in his trademark film-style, prompting loud applause and cheers from members of the ruling party.
Speaking in the Assembly, Vijay said he had originally intended to perform the gesture in the presence of DMK lawmakers, but noted that they had already left the chamber. The moment quickly became one of the most talked-about highlights of the legislative session.
During his speech, the Chief Minister launched a strong attack on the previous DMK administration, accusing it of financial mismanagement, corruption, and misuse of public resources. He said his government had inherited a difficult financial situation and referred to the White Paper on Tamil Nadu’s finances, which was released to outline the state’s economic condition.
Addressing criticism from the opposition, Vijay remarked that while his government knew how to serve the people, it did not know how to engage in practices such as accepting bribes, inflating project costs, misusing public funds, or diverting government money for personal benefit. He also alleged that the previous administration had failed to maintain transparency in governance.
The Chief Minister further stated that his government was committed to transparent administration, fair public procurement, creating employment opportunities without corruption, protecting temple funds, and ensuring that public money remained dedicated to public welfare rather than private interests.
Vijay also emphasized his government’s commitment to combating the drug menace, promoting women’s safety, and continuing welfare initiatives for citizens. He argued that those who genuinely respect women should support programs such as free bus travel for women and other public welfare measures rather than criticize them.
The speech came in response to allegations made by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who had questioned the achievements of the new TVK-led government during its first 40 days in office and criticized the administration over issues including power outages. Vijay used his address to defend his government’s performance while outlining its priorities for governance and accountability.
Following the Chief Minister’s remarks, opposition members protested inside the Assembly, leading to a walkout by DMK legislators. The heated exchanges marked the conclusion of the first Assembly session under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s leadership, underscoring the growing political rivalry between the ruling TVK government and the opposition DMK.