Overview
- Chief Minister Joseph Vijay asked “Where is your father?” in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday, a remark that prompted public calls within the DMK for party chief MK Stalin to re-enter the House.
- Senior DMK leaders, led by KN Nehru, said the party should use the expected by-polls to bring Stalin back but Stalin has not formally confirmed any candidacy.
- Six Assembly seats are vacant and likely to go to by-election after Vijay vacated Tiruchy East and five AIADMK MLAs resigned, with four of those defectors joining the Vetrivel Katchi.
- Udhayanidhi Stalin replied on X with a post widely read as referencing reports about Vijay’s wife, a response that drew criticism from coalition partner VCK for lowering Assembly decorum.
- The coming by-polls are now seen as the first substantive electoral test after the state vote and a chance to reshape legislative balance while raising questions about personalised rhetoric and norms in the Assembly.