TVK ministers seek apology from Stalin over alleged remark about bypoll rival

Several ministers in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government have demanded a public apology from DMK president M.K. Stalin over an alleged remark about TVK candidate P. Sathyabama during campaigning for the Dharapuram bypoll.

Mr. Stalin made the comment while campaigning for DMK candidate S. Suganya in Tiruppur on October 2, according to the source material.

Referring to Ms. Sathyabama’s move from the AIADMK to the TVK, he asked how she had managed to do “somersaults with her body”. TVK leaders interpreted the remark as body-shaming and condemned it.

Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said it insulted women, particularly women from Scheduled Castes, and was contrary to political decorum. He called for a public apology.

Energy Resources and Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar accused DMK leaders of repeatedly making derogatory comments about women. He described the alleged remark as a sign of frustration and said it was condemnable.

School Education Minister Rajmohan said derogatory comments about women demeaned their dignity as a whole. He questioned whether insulting women on a political stage could be considered a political achievement. Industries Minister S.

Keerthana said it was disheartening to hear such remarks from a person who had held the State’s highest office. She also criticised what she described as repeated attempts to demean women in public forums. Ministers T.K.

Prabhu, Vanni Arasu, M. Vijay Balaji, R. Vinoth and D.

Logesh Tamilselvan joined the criticism. BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan also condemned Mr. Stalin and said the DMK had not learnt from recent defeats.

The source material records the allegations and the reactions from TVK and BJP leaders. It does not include a response from Mr. Stalin or the DMK to the criticism.