Union Minister Piyush Goyal Calls for Action Against Tamil Nadu Deputy CM
In a significant political development in Chennai, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday made a strong demand for the removal of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin from the state cabinet. Goyal accused the DMK leader of attempting to "divide people through hate speech" and creating communal disharmony within the state.
Allegations of Hate Speech and Communal Division
During a joint press interaction with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Goyal explicitly stated that "action should be taken against Udhayanidhi for his hate speech, for dividing the people of Tamil Nadu, for trying to create communal disharmony." The Union Minister was referring to Udhayanidhi Stalin's controversial remarks on 'sanatana dharma' made in 2023, which have remained a point of political contention.
Goyal further cited the recent order passed by the Madras High Court that quashed the FIR registered against BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya. Malviya had equated Udhayanidhi's remarks with a call for genocide, and the court's decision to dismiss the case appears to have strengthened the BJP's position on the matter. "Udhayanidhi should no longer be part of the government," Goyal asserted, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.
Strong Criticism of DMK's Political Culture
The Union Minister did not mince words when criticizing the political culture of the DMK, stating that Udhayanidhi comes from a party where "abusing Hindus is met with applause." He called for legal action against the Deputy Chief Minister, saying "a case should be registered against him for his hate speech, for trying to divide people, and people like him should not be allowed to run the state of Tamil Nadu."
NDA Alliance Consolidation in Tamil Nadu
Meanwhile, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu witnessed interesting developments as several minor allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from the state met with Piyush Goyal to reaffirm their support. The delegation included:
- Indiya Jananayaka Katchi founder T R Paarivendar
- Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam leader John Pandian
- Puthiya Neethi Katchi founder A C Shanmugham
- Puratchi Bharatham party leader Poovai Jaganmoorthy
BJP functionaries indicated that these meetings helped consolidate the alliance ahead of upcoming political contests. Poovai Jaganmoorthy revealed to reporters after the meeting that while his party was given only one constituency in the last election, they have now begun election work in six constituencies, suggesting an expanded role within the NDA framework.
Setback for NDA as Tamizhar Desam Katchi Exits Alliance
In a contrasting development, Tamizhar Desam Katchi founder K R Selvakumar quit the NDA and joined the DMK on the same day. When questioned about his decision to leave the alliance, Selvakumar stated that "BJP did not fulfil their promise of forming a national welfare board for muthuraiyar community," highlighting unmet expectations that led to his political realignment.
The political dynamics in Tamil Nadu continue to evolve with these developments, reflecting the complex interplay between allegations of hate speech, alliance politics, and community representation that characterize the state's political landscape.
