TN CM apologises in Assembly after minister's remark on Karunanidhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Vijay Joseph on Monday apologised in the state Assembly after a minister referred to former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi without the customary respectful honorific, triggering strong protests from opposition members.

The incident occurred during a debate on demands for grants for health and revenue departments. State Forest Minister R V Ranjith Kumar, while criticising alleged cash-for-votes practices in previous elections, mentioned the late DMK leader simply as “Karunanidhi” instead of using the traditional honorific “Kalaignar” (scholar) or the prefix “former chief minister”.

DMK members, led by former minister K K S S R Ramachandran, immediately objected, citing the long-standing convention in the Assembly of using respectful titles for revered leaders. The protests threatened to disrupt the proceedings.

Chief Minister Vijay intervened to defuse the tension. He acknowledged that the reference was inappropriate and offered an apology on behalf of the minister. “I apologise on his behalf,” Vijay said in the Assembly.

BJP state president and Rajya Sabha member K Annamalai earlier took to social media to express his own apology, saying he was a witness to the events. However, the Chief Minister's intervention was seen as an attempt to restore decorum and prevent the issue from escalating.

The debate that led to the controversy centred on allegations of electoral malpractice. Ranjith Kumar claimed that in his Kancheepuram constituency, up to Rs 1,500 per vote had been distributed during previous elections. He sought to contrast this with the current government, asserting that it came to power without resorting to such practices.

While referring to those past election tactics, Ranjith Kumar's omission of the honorific for Karunanidhi drew sharp reactions. The DMK, which has long held Karunanidhi in high regard as a literary and political icon, considered the remark a breach of parliamentary etiquette.

Political analysts note that the use of honorifics for former leaders is a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu's political culture, where respect for departed leaders is deeply valued across party lines. The Chief Minister's swift apology was widely seen as a move to maintain harmony in the Assembly and avoid a prolonged confrontation.

The incident also highlights the fragile nature of Assembly proceedings, where even a subtle deviation from convention can lead to significant political friction. The DMK benches, however, accepted the Chief Minister's apology, allowing the House to resume its business.

This is not the first time such an issue has arisen in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Past incidents have underscored the importance of adhering to established norms of address, particularly when referring to leaders who have shaped the state's political history.

Karunanidhi, who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms, passed away in 2018. He is remembered for his contributions to Tamil literature, social justice, and Dravidian politics. The honorific “Kalaignar” is widely used across the state to acknowledge his scholarly and artistic legacy.

The Chief Minister's apology in the Assembly brings closure to the immediate controversy, but it serves as a reminder of the protocols that govern legislative discourse and the sensitivities attached to historical figures in the state's political landscape.