'Treating Assembly Like Cinema Set, Delivering Punches': MK Stalin Attacks Tamil Nadu CM Vijay

News india 'Treating Assembly Like Cinema Set, Delivering Punches': MK Stalin Attacks Tamil Nadu CM VijayLast Updated:August 22, 2026, 17:01 ISTDMK chief MK Stalin criticised Tamil Nadu CM Vijay over his Assembly conduct, while the party also rejected the government's free car offer to MLAs.Rapid ReadSummarized by AI.+Got Question about the News?Left: DMK Chief MK Stalin; Right: TVK Vijay DMK president MK Stalin on Saturday attacked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over his conduct in the State Assembly, accusing him of treating the House like a film set and focusing on dramatic “punch dialogues".Speaking at a DMK executive meeting, Stalin also alleged that the Vijay-led government was renaming welfare schemes that had been introduced during the DMK’s tenure.Recommended StoriesBRICS Summit 2026: Here Are The 5 Biggest Takeaways From The Historic New Delhi EditionUttarakhand’s Road Safety Crisis: 775 Killed In Accidents In First 7 Months This YearAdult Film Star, Audi & Arms: Viral Video Raises Fresh Questions Over Odisha's Rourkela Circuit HouseWoman Dies Nearly Six Months After Love Marriage, Husband Held Over Rs 30 Lakh & SUV Dowry Demand“The present Chief Minister is busy changing the names of all the schemes we introduced. He is treating the Legislative Assembly like a cinema set and delivering punch dialogues. As far as we are concerned, whether we win or lose, we are people who remain deeply connected with the day-to-day lives of the people," MK Stalin said.Vijay’s Dramatic Assembly GestureStalin’s remarks come after an incident in the Assembly in June, when the opposition DMK staged a walkout during a session addressed by Vijay.Despite the walkout, Vijay continued with his speech and later sought permission from Speaker JCD Pabhakar to make a dramatic gesture at the end of his address, reportedly mirroring a gesture previously associated with MK Stalin.Parts of Vijay’s speech later went viral on social media. Towards the end, he referred to the people he intended the gesture for having already walked out and asked whether he could still make it. After receiving permission, Vijay smiled and made an ‘it’s over’ hand gesture.‘We Have Only Lost An Election’: StalinStalin also urged party members to view the DMK’s electoral defeat as an opportunity to reassess its strategy and prepare for the future.“Let us consider this as an opportunity we have been given to plan the future of the party. This is going to be a very important Executive Committee meeting in the history of the party. With your approval, we are going to make major and significant changes to the organisational structure of the party," he said.DMK MLAs Reject Vijay’s Free Car OfferThe political confrontation between the DMK and the Vijay-led government has also extended to the latter’s offer of free cars to MLAs.On Friday, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said all 59 DMK legislators had decided not to accept the offer.“Since the TVK government has been saying from day one after assuming power that the government is in debt, all 59 DMK MLAs have decided not to avail this offer. We urge the government to provide free cars to MLAs only after verifying their election affidavits, whether they already own cars and what their financial status is," Udhayanidhi said.DMK Questions Use Of Public MoneyDMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai also criticised the proposal, arguing that public funds should not be used for what he described as a non-essential luxury.“The TVK government wants to splurge public money on luxury, which is not a priority."He also questioned how the government would finance the scheme after Vijay had previously said the state’s financial position was poor.“The CM said that the state coffers were wiped out when he took charge as the CM. Now, how will they fulfill this promise?" Annadurai asked.News18 NewsletterHandpicked stories, in your inboxA newsletter with the best of our journalismQuick AnswersPowered byAsk News18The DMK plans to implement a structural overhaul by introducing strict age caps and limiting terms for party posts. They will expand organisational districts from 78 to 110, with each district covering approximately two Assembly constituencies, and abolish the standalone post of "city secretary" in major urban centres.Powered byAsk News18About the AuthorAnushka VatsAnushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ...Read MoreLocation : First Published:August 22, 2026, 17:01 ISTDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Loading comments...Read More