A fresh political controversy has erupted in poll bound Tamil Nadu, intensifying an already charged election atmosphere. The issue began after a remark by Nainar Nagendran, targeting actor turned politician Vijay.
Nagendran’s comment dragged popular actress Trisha Krishnan into the political debate. The personal nature of the remark triggered strong criticism from multiple quarters.
The BJP leader was responding to Vijay’s recent statement that his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, would be the sole challenger to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Mocking Vijay’s political entry, Nagendran called him inexperienced. He said someone who “cannot even climb onto a rooftop is dreaming of climbing to heaven.” He then went further by making a personal remark suggesting Vijay should “come out of Trisha’s house” to gain political experience.
Nagendran made the statement while laughing and added that Vijay should first resolve personal and family matters before speaking about politics. When questioned later, he refused to withdraw the comment and stood by his words.
This refusal intensified the backlash. The ruling DMK reacted sharply, with party spokesperson TKS Elangovan accusing BJP leaders of disrespecting women. He claimed such remarks explain why the BJP faces resistance in Tamil Nadu.
The Indian National Congress also condemned the statement. Tamil Nadu Congress president Selvaperunthagai called the remark shocking and questioned the need to drag Trisha into political discourse.
However, Nagendran received support from within the BJP. Party leader Vijayadharani defended him, claiming the comments were twisted by the DMK for political gain and were made “in a good sense.”
The remarks were made during Vijay’s political rally, where he criticised both the BJP and the DMK. With Tamil Nadu set to go to the polls before May, the episode highlights how personal attacks and sharp language are increasingly dominating political debate, often pushing policy discussions to the background.
