‘Assembly Isn’t a Movie Scene’: DMK Mocks Vijay for Recreating Stalin’s Viral Gesture

‘Not a Cinema Set’: DMK Attacks CM Vijay Over Stalin Gesture in Tamil Nadu Assembly

A symbolic hand gesture by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has sparked a fresh political confrontation with the opposition DMK, which accused the TVK leader of turning Assembly proceedings into a theatrical performance.

The controversy erupted during Vijay’s reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address, when he recreated a hand-slashing gesture that had gone viral earlier this year after being performed by former chief minister M.K. Stalin.

With DMK legislators having already walked out of the House, Vijay sought the Speaker’s permission before making the gesture.

“I wanted to do this in the presence of DMK members, but they have left. May I?” the chief minister asked. After receiving approval, he performed the gesture, drawing cheers and desk-thumping from members of the ruling benches.

The moment quickly grabbed attention because of its resemblance to the gesture Stalin made following the DMK’s seat-sharing agreement with the Congress ahead of the elections. The former chief minister had later explained that it symbolised the successful conclusion of alliance negotiations.

Vijay’s Swipe at the Opposition

The gesture came after Vijay launched a sharp attack on the opposition and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Responding to criticism over law and order in the state, Vijay remarked, “Devils should not speak about evils,” a statement widely interpreted as a response to Udhayanidhi’s comments a day earlier that remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing amounted to supporting it.

The chief minister’s remarks and subsequent gesture became one of the most talked-about moments of the Assembly session.

DMK Hits Back

The DMK reacted strongly, accusing Vijay of prioritising political drama over governance.

In a statement, the opposition alleged that the chief minister used his speech to make politically motivated accusations instead of addressing key issues affecting the state. The party claimed there was little discussion on concerns such as power supply, farmers’ welfare, law and order, and the implementation of government promises.

The DMK also criticised the manner in which the proceedings were conducted, comparing the Assembly to a movie set.

“Treating the Assembly cameras like cinema cameras, he delivered his speech as though it were a film shoot,” the party said, arguing that legislative debates should not be reduced to performance and symbolism.

Row Over Farmers and Governance

The opposition further objected to Vijay’s remarks suggesting that certain farmers’ protests were being encouraged by political opponents. The DMK said such comments undermined the concerns of farmers and diverted attention from genuine grievances.

In a pointed jab at the chief minister’s film background, the party said Vijay should act less like a movie star and more like the elected head of the government.

Political Temperatures Rise

The latest exchange underscores the growing rivalry between the ruling TVK and the DMK, which has increasingly played out both inside and outside the Assembly. While TVK supporters viewed Vijay’s gesture as a political retort aimed at the opposition, the DMK portrayed it as an example of style overshadowing substance.

What began as a brief symbolic act has now evolved into another flashpoint in Tamil Nadu’s heated political landscape.