Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay stepped in to calm a protest in the state Assembly on Monday after Forest minister RV Ranjith Kumar referred to former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi by name without using the customary honorific associated with the late DMK leader.
The reference triggered an immediate objection from opposition DMK members, who protested what they considered a breach of the Assembly's established decorum.
Vijay intervened during the proceedings and acknowledged that the reference was inappropriate. He then apologised on behalf of his minister, bringing the disruption to an end.
"I apologise on his behalf," Vijay said.
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Remarks trigger DMK protest
The incident took place during a debate on the demands for grants for the Health and Revenue departments.
Ranjith Kumar was speaking about alleged cash-for-votes practices in earlier elections. He referred to the controversial "Thirumangalam formula" and claimed that voters in his Kancheepuram constituency had received as much as Rs 1,500 per vote during previous elections.
While contrasting those elections with the present administration, the minister mentioned Karunanidhi without using "Kalaignar", the respectful title traditionally used for the former chief minister and DMK patriarch.
The reference immediately drew protests from DMK legislators, led by former minister KKSSR Ramachandran.
Chief minister steps in
The exchange threatened to interrupt the debate as opposition members objected to the manner in which the former chief minister had been mentioned.
Vijay intervened while Ranjith Kumar was speaking and acknowledged the concern raised by the opposition. He said referring to the late leader without the customary form of address was wrong and offered an apology on the minister's behalf.
The intervention helped bring the protest to an end and allowed the Assembly proceedings to continue.
What led to the controversy
Ranjith Kumar's remarks were centred on allegations of money being distributed to influence voters in previous elections. He cited the "Thirumangalam formula", a term associated with alleged cash-for-votes practices, while arguing that the current administration had come to power without distributing money for votes.
It was during this comparison that he referred to Karunanidhi directly by name.
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In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, former and current leaders are often addressed using formal titles or honorifics, particularly when referring to prominent political figures. The DMK's objection was centred on the departure from that convention.
The Chief Minister's immediate intervention and apology prevented the dispute from escalating further during the Assembly debate.