Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief Vijay has called an emergency meeting with his ministers and party MLAs after a series of controversies involving his own party leaders.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai. All party MLAs have been asked to attend. Vijay is expected to question them over their recent conduct and make it clear that indiscipline will not be tolerated.
The decision follows allegations against two TVK legislators that have attracted considerable attention. In one incident, Tamil Nadu Deputy Speaker and TVK MLA Ravi Shankar was accused of assaulting photographer Karthik Kumar after he questioned him about civic issues in the constituency. Videos of the alleged incident went viral on social media.
In another case, Kallakurichi TVK MLA Arul Vignesh faced allegations of sending inappropriate messages to the district collector. Both incidents have put the party in an uncomfortable position and raised concerns about the behaviour of its elected representatives.
Vijay is reportedly unhappy with the repeated controversies. He had earlier asked party MLAs to remain accessible to the public and maintain a respectful relationship with government officials. However, the latest incidents suggest that his instructions have not had the desired effect.
The emergency meeting is likely to be more than a routine discussion. Vijay is expected to send a firm message that party representatives cannot afford to act irresponsibly. Their behaviour reflects not just on themselves but also on the government and the party.
Vijay now appears determined to bring his legislators in line before these controversies turn into a bigger problem for his government.
