Udhayanidhi Stalin Arrested Over Controversial Trisha Remark, Calls Action a ‘Political Joke’
Tamil Nadu : A political storm erupted in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday after opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested from his Chennai residence over his controversial remarks about actor Trisha Krishnan during a public rally.
Police took Stalin into custody in the morning, just a day after his speech at a protest in Thanjavur sparked widespread outrage. As he was escorted by officers, Stalin appeared calm and smiling, later telling reporters that he considered the arrest a “joke” and would challenge it through legal channels.
The controversy began when, during a rally over the Cauvery water dispute, members of the crowd shouted Trisha’s name. Responding with a comment widely criticised as containing a double meaning, Stalin triggered sharp reactions from political rivals and women’s rights groups.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) accused Stalin of making derogatory remarks about a woman and rejected claims that the arrest was politically motivated. Party leader Americai Narayanan said the issue was not about criticism of the government or Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, but about allegedly insulting a female public figure. The party also approached the National Commission for Women, demanding strict action.
Defending its leader, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) described the arrest as an act of political vendetta. Senior party leader TKS Elangovan argued that Stalin had not directly named Trisha in his speech and insisted that his comments were being misrepresented.
The Bharatiya Janata Party also criticised Stalin, calling his remarks offensive and demanding his arrest. BJP leaders said such language had no place in public discourse, particularly from a senior political figure.
The incident has reignited discussions about the treatment of women in politics and public life. Trisha has previously been dragged into political debates and personal speculation, with several leaders making comments linking her to Tamil cinema and politics.
With the case now taking a legal turn, the controversy is expected to remain at the centre of Tamil Nadu’s political discourse in the coming days.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
