MLA Breaks Silence on Viral Social Media Controversy
AIADMK legislator V Sampath Kumar has strongly refuted allegations that he was forced to sit on the floor during a special inspection in Dharmapuri district, calling the claims completely false and misleading.
The controversy erupted on Wednesday after photographs and videos from Tuesday's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) inspection at Harur town panchayat office showed the MLA sitting on the floor while conducting official business.
The Allegations and Social Media Storm
Initial reports suggested that Sampath Kumar, who belongs to a dalit community, had been compelled to sit on the floor by a party functionary. The allegations specifically targeted Harur AIADMK union secretary Pasupathi, with complaints going viral across social media platforms.
Political leaders and social activists quickly seized upon the incident, claiming it exposed deep-rooted caste discrimination within the AIADMK party. Many alleged that dalit members were being systematically sidelined and treated differently within the party structure.
MLA's Official Clarification
Sampath Kumar took to his X account (formerly Twitter) to set the record straight. The MLA explained that during the Tuesday inspection visit, he was indeed offered a chair but made a conscious decision to sit on the floor.
"A chair was given to me. However, since senior members of the public were sitting on the floor due to lack of chairs, I chose to sit on the floor among them to speak with them on equal terms," the legislator stated in his social media post.
He emphasized that despite suffering from leg pain, he completed the entire SIR inspection while sitting on the floor to maintain equality with the senior citizens present at the meeting.
Broader Political Implications
The incident has sparked wider discussions about caste dynamics in Tamil Nadu politics. Several opposition parties and social organizations had begun using the episode to criticize AIADMK's internal culture and treatment of marginalized community members.
However, with Sampath Kumar's clear denial of any mistreatment, the narrative has shifted significantly. The MLA made an emotional appeal in his statement, requesting people not to misunderstand his action or spread false information that could damage his reputation.
"Please do not circulate any misleading news that could harm my reputation," he urged, indicating the personal and political damage such allegations could cause.
The Special Intensive Revision inspection in Harur assembly constituency was part of routine administrative work, but the subsequent social media storm turned it into a major political talking point across Tamil Nadu.
