Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai has sharply criticized the ruling DMK government and its minister for abusing their power during the Jallikattu event on 16 January 2024. The incident involved DMK Minister P. Moorthy asking the female district collector, Mrs. Sangeetha, to vacate her seat in order to accommodate Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s son Inbanithi and his friends.
In a post on his official X account, Annamalai stated, “It is highly condemnable act of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who attended the Jallikattu event in Alanganallur, Madurai, with his son Inbanithi and his friends, has removed Madurai District Collector Mrs. Sangeetha from her seat to make space for his son’s friends on stage. Forcing the female District Collector to vacate her chair to accommodate the Deputy Chief Minister’s son’s friends is an abuse of power that surpasses even the dark period of DMK rule from 2006 to 2011 in Tamil Nadu. Why insult a women government official while ministers, who are supposed to serve the Chief Minister’s family, are seated on the stage? Udhayanidhi Stalin should reflect on the 2011 election results and the ten years that followed. The people of Tamil Nadu will put an end to this monarchical mentality in 2026.”
மதுரை அலங்காநல்லூர் ஜல்லிக்கட்டு நிகழ்ச்சியைக் காண, தனது மகன் இன்பநிதி மற்றும் அவரது நண்பர்களுடன் சென்றிருக்கும் துணை முதலமைச்சர் உதயநிதி ஸ்டாலின், ஜல்லிக்கட்டு விழா மேடையில் தனது மகனின் நண்பர்களை அமர வைப்பதற்காக, நாற்காலியில் அமர்ந்திருந்த மதுரை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் திருமதி. சங்கீதா… pic.twitter.com/bQWecdmRiD
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 16, 2025
The controversy unfolded when DMK Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration, P. Moorthy, intervened during the Jallikattu event, asking the Madurai district collector to vacate her seat for Udhayanidhi Stalin’s son and his friends. The move drew widespread criticism, as the collector was overseeing the event and had a designated seat in line with the protocols in place for such occasions. A video of the incident went viral, sparking outrage across social media.
இன்பநிதியின் நண்பர்களுக்காக கலெக்டரை நிற்கவைத்த அமைச்சர் மூர்த்தி
#madurai #Jallikattu2025 #India #Tamilnadu #pongalfestival #pongalcelebration #TamilJanam #TamilJanamTV | #அலங்காநல்லூர் #மதுரை | #Alanganallur | #Jallikattu2025 | #தமிழ்நாடு | #Udhayanidhi | #UdhayanidhiStalin |… pic.twitter.com/2iEBmXiLjN— Tamil Janam (@TamilJanamNews) January 16, 2025
The incident follows previous criticism over caste discrimination, particularly regarding the exclusion of Scheduled Castes from participating in the Palamedu Jallikattu event. Despite a ruling from the Madras High Court that forbids caste-based discrimination, protests erupted from the Paraiyar Uravin Murai Sangam, who raised black flags at their homes in opposition to the DMK’s handling of these matters, especially under the oversight of Minister Moorthy.
The event also saw discontent among Jallikattu enthusiasts when P. Rajasekhar, the state president of the Jallikattu Council, was made to stand without a chair despite his significant role in securing a Supreme Court victory for the sport. Meanwhile, individuals with no clear connection to the event were given special seating, adding to the disillusionment among attendees.
ஜல்லிக்கட்டு வரலாற்றில் உச்சநீதி மன்றம் சென்று போராடி வழக்காடி வெற்றி தீர்ப்பு பெற்ற ஜல்லிகட்டு பேரவை மாநில தலைவர் பி .ராஜசேகர் அய்யா அவர்களை அலங்காநல்லூர் ஜல்லிக்கட்டு மைதான அரங்கத்தில், வயதில் மூத்தவரான அவரை நிற்க வைத்து கலைஞரின் வாரிசு என்ற ஒரே தகுதியின் அடிப்படையில்… pic.twitter.com/6jbcjVXisE
— K.S.Radhakrishnan (@KSRadhakrish) January 16, 2025
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