On 12th May, Tamil Nadu politics once again witnessed the return of a controversial ideological debate inside the state Assembly after Leader of Opposition and DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin repeated his earlier remarks against Sanatan Dharma. Speaking during the Assembly proceedings in the presence of newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay, Udhayanidhi Stalin openly reiterated his stand and declared, “Sanathanam, which separated people, should be eradicated.”

The statement immediately brought back memories of the intense nationwide controversy that had erupted in 2023 after Stalin made similar remarks targeting Sanatan Dharma during a public conference. His latest speech in the Assembly gained even more attention because it came only months after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court observed that his earlier comments amounted to hate speech directed against the Hindu community.

The issue surrounding Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks has remained politically sensitive in Tamil Nadu ever since his original speech triggered protests, legal petitions, and sharp political reactions across India. His latest comments inside the Assembly indicated that he continues to stand by his ideological position despite the criticism and court observations that followed his earlier statements.

The 2023 Speech That Triggered Massive Controversy

The roots of the controversy go back to 2nd September 2023, when Udhayanidhi Stalin was serving as Tamil Nadu’s Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development in the DMK government. During a Sanatana Abolition Conference, he made remarks that quickly created a political storm throughout the country.

At the conference, Stalin compared Sanatan Dharma to diseases and harmful elements in society. He stated that Sanatan Dharma should not simply be criticised or opposed, but should instead be completely eliminated. In his speech, he equated Sanatan Dharma with mosquitoes, dengue, malaria and corona, remarks that drew severe backlash from Hindu organisations, political leaders, and religious groups.

The controversy did not end with the speech. Instead of softening his stand after criticism emerged, Stalin later reinforced his position through posts on X. In those posts, he claimed that Sanatan Dharma divides society on the basis of caste and religion. He further argued that “uprooting” Sanatan Dharma was essential for achieving humanity and equality.

His statements led to heated political exchanges across India, with several opposition parties accusing the DMK leadership of insulting Hindu beliefs and traditions. The remarks also intensified the long-standing ideological clash between Dravidian politics and Hindu religious identity in Tamil Nadu.

Court Raises Questions Over Selective Action

The controversy later reached the courts as legal cases and complaints were filed in connection with the remarks and the reactions to them. On 20th January this year, Justice S Srimathy of the Madras High Court quashed an FIR that had been registered against BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya.

Malviya had criticised Udhayanidhi Stalin’s controversial statements, following which legal action was initiated against him. While hearing the matter, the court questioned why action had been taken against those reacting to the speech, while no action had been initiated against the individual who originally made the controversial remarks.

The court observed that there appeared to be inconsistency in the handling of the matter. During the proceedings, the court also remarked that Hinduism had continuously faced attacks for nearly a century, initially from Dravida Kazhagam and later from the DMK.

These observations added another layer to the already charged political and ideological debate surrounding the issue. The High Court’s remarks were widely discussed in political circles and further intensified the discussion around freedom of speech, hate speech, and religious sensitivities in Tamil Nadu politics.

Udhayanidhi Calls For Political Cooperation With CM Vijay

Despite the sharp ideological remarks made earlier during the Assembly session, Udhayanidhi Stalin also attempted to present the DMK as a responsible opposition party willing to cooperate with the newly formed government on administrative matters.

Referring to the DMK’s long experience in governance and administration, he urged Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to consider the counsel and experience of the DMK while handling state affairs. Udhayanidhi stressed that governance should not become entirely confrontational and called for cooperation between the treasury benches and the opposition.

He appreciated Chief Minister Vijay for meeting the DMK leadership after assuming office and spoke about maintaining “political civility” inside the Assembly. According to him, both the ruling side and the opposition should work together in the interest of Tamil Nadu’s development.

Vijay’s First Meeting With DMK Leadership After Taking Oath

On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay met former Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin at his Chennai residence. During the visit, he also met Udhayanidhi Stalin.

The interaction was politically significant because it marked Vijay’s first formal meeting with the senior DMK leadership after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu following the formation of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in the state.

The meeting came at a time when Tamil Nadu politics is entering a new phase with actor-turned-politician Vijay now leading the government while the DMK has moved into the opposition role in the Assembly.

During his speech in the House, Udhayanidhi Stalin also referred to issues connected with Tamil identity and protocol, while recalling the earlier confrontations between the DMK government and former Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi.

Speaking on the issue, he stated, “Tamil state song was played at the third spot. Opposition parties have expressed concern. The ruling government gave clarification. In the West Bengal CM ceremony event, there was no Vande Mataram. But here it was played. You all know who the Governor is there. What he demanded when he was here as Governor. The government should not allow this to happen again. The Tamil state song should never be pushed to the second spot. We should protect our customs. After years, women legislators have come here. We are happy to see it. Congratulations. We will be a healthy opposition in Tamil Nadu.”

His remarks reflected the continuing emphasis within Dravidian politics on regional identity, language, and state customs, themes that have remained central to Tamil Nadu’s political discourse for decades.

DMK Chooses Udhayanidhi Stalin As Leader Of Opposition

On Monday, the DMK officially elected Udhayanidhi Stalin as the legislature party leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, making him the Leader of Opposition in the House.

Party sources also confirmed key appointments within the DMK legislative structure. Senior DMK leader and former minister K N Nehru was chosen as the deputy legislature party leader, while former minister E V Velu was elected as the party whip.

With 59 MLAs in the Assembly, the DMK will now function as the principal opposition party against the newly formed TVK-led government. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has a total strength of 234 members.

Although the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam on its own did not manage to secure a majority in the 234-member Assembly, Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay successfully stitched together support from multiple parties including the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI (M), and IUML.

With the backing of these allies, Vijay managed to gather the support of 120 MLAs, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118 required to form the government in Tamil Nadu.