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Tamil Nadu Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin challenged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to release alleged DMK-era corruption files, triggering a heated Assembly exchange on Friday
Chennai
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday challenged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to release alleged corruption files linked to the previous DMK government and take action if there was evidence of wrongdoing. The remarks were made during a heated debate in the state Assembly over Vijay’s earlier statement that he would make the files public at an “appropriate time.”
Udhayanidhi questioned why the alleged findings had not yet been released and criticised Vijay’s approach to the issue. He said the Assembly should not be treated like a film set while responding to the chief minister’s remarks.
“Don’t deliver punch dialogues like in cinema in the assembly,” Udhayanidhi said. He also urged Vijay to release the documents immediately if there was credible evidence of corruption, asking why the chief minister was delaying their publication.
Vijay did not directly respond to Udhayanidhi in the House. However, the state’s School Education Minister defended the government, saying Vijay remained committed to transparency and would release the alleged corruption files at an appropriate time.
The exchange triggered heated arguments between DMK and TVK legislators, with members raising slogans and briefly disrupting proceedings before the Assembly resumed. The dispute followed Vijay’s statement on Wednesday that he possessed files concerning alleged corruption in three government departments and would reveal them when the time was appropriate.
The Assembly has recently witnessed repeated clashes between the ruling TVK and opposition DMK over corruption allegations, government finances and welfare schemes. During an earlier budget discussion, Finance Minister Wilson criticised the previous government over rising debt, while DMK leader Nehru defended the borrowing, saying funds were used for development projects. The Assembly also passed a resolution seeking fairer tax devolution from the Centre.