Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay issued an apology in the state Assembly on Monday after a minister mentioned former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi by name without customary honorifics. The comment prompted immediate objections from the opposition DMK, which described it as a violation of protocol.
Vijay moved swiftly to ease tensions and stated that the late leader had been addressed incorrectly. “I apologise on his behalf,” the 52-year-old actor-politician said after Forest Minister RV Ranjith Kumar referred to Karunanidhi without titles such as “Kalaignar” or “former Chief Minister”.
The exchange occurred during a discussion on grants for the Health and Revenue departments. In his remarks, Ranjith Kumar criticised past cash-for-votes practices, referenced the “Thirumangalam formula,” and alleged that up to Rs 1,500 per vote had been distributed in his Kancheepuram constituency during earlier elections.
He contrasted those polls with the current government, which he said had assumed power without such payments. However, when listing previous tactics, he referred to the DMK leader simply as “Karunanidhi,” breaching assembly convention that requires formal titles for respected figures.
DMK members, led by former minister KKSSR Ramachandran, protested loudly. Vijay halted the speech, acknowledged the impropriety, and offered the apology, allowing the debate to resume.
