Vijay's First Assembly Speech: Accuses Previous Government of Corruption, Highlights Own Social Justice Steps

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay delivered his maiden speech in the state Assembly on Tuesday during the motion of thanks to the Governor's address. The session saw interruptions and a walkout by Opposition DMK legislators after Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin launched a personal attack on the Chief Minister.

Throughout his address, Vijay repeatedly criticised the previous DMK administration over alleged corruption. "Even now I say this: we will not touch even a single paisa of the people's money. We will not allow it to be touched. If anyone touches it, we will not spare them. We will not spare those who touched it before either," he said.

The Chief Minister also rejected claims that parties now supporting his government had been lured away from the Opposition alliance. "The CPI(M) says that the decision to support us was taken independently. Likewise, the CPI says that the decision to support us was taken independently. Then where does this claim of 'we sent them there, we sent them there' come from? I do not understand," he stated.

Vijay contrasted his government's record on social justice with that of the previous administration. He asked, "Can you please tell us how many ministerial posts you gave to our Scheduled Caste brothers and sisters?" He then added, "But in our government, eight ministerial positions have been given to whom? To our Scheduled Caste brothers and sisters. They are all our elder brothers, our younger brothers, our sisters. Dr Ambedkar's nearly hundred-year-old dream has now been fulfilled."

On women's representation, he said, "Can you tell us how many women you gave ministerial positions to? In our government, we have given ministerial positions to four sisters."

At one point, after sparring with Opposition members, Vijay narrated a story about an elderly man searching for someone, which was interpreted as a sarcastic reference to former Chief Minister M K Stalin. He followed it with a disclaimer: "See, even we know how to speak sarcastically, mockingly, and tell unrelated little stories. The elderly man in that story apparently said so. Please don't misunderstand."

The Chief Minister also made a reference to Stalin's long-time political base, Kolathur, saying, "Just for speaking for five minutes (at Kolathur during campaigns), Kolathur itself has become this excited. If I keep speaking further, then what will happen?" This drew cheers from treasury benches.