The Tamil Nadu BJP has criticized the ruling DMK government after opposition MLA speeches were cut short during the 2025 state assembly session, with only responses from DMK and its allied MLAs and ministers being shown. The BJP mocked the DMK, recalling their 2021 election manifesto promise to broadcast all assembly proceedings live, like Parliament and other states. However, the DMK has recently cut live coverage of opposition MLA speeches, including those of the Leader of the Opposition, while the Speaker expunged critical remarks from the assembly minutes.
In a post on social media platform X, the Tamil Nadu BJP took aim at the DMK, stating, “Chief Minister @mkstalin, what happened to promise number 375 from your 2021 elections? You promised to broadcast legislative sessions live like Parliament and other states, right? We know that this is another one of your promises vanish, like a kolam washed away in water. you can’t speak about the people’s problems outside, and if you fight for it you’ll be arrested. Even when you try to speak inside, you cannot broadcast in the media! So, what’s the end for people’s problems and your incompetence in this emergency regime? Your own promises will turn into bricks and build a tomb for this rogue governance… and that will be the end!”
முதல்வர் திரு. @mkstalin அவர்களே, 2021 தேர்தலின் போது நீங்கள் கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதி எண். 375 என்ன?
நாடாளுமன்றத்தை போலவும், பிற மாநிலங்களில் உள்ளதைப் போலவும் சட்டமன்ற கூட்டத் தொடர்கள் நேரடி ஒளிபரப்பாகும் என்பதுதானே?
கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதிகளை நீரிலிட்ட கோலம் போலாக்கும் வல்லமையுள்ள… pic.twitter.com/3yWA56wBlI
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) January 8, 2025
The Tamil Nadu BJP’s criticism comes in response to the ruling DMK government’s decision to once again block the live telecast of opposition MLAs questioning the government during the 2025 Assembly session. This move has drawn widespread condemnation as an attempt to silence opposition voices, with some calling it a form of political fascism.
The controversy intensified amid ongoing issues such as the Anna University sexual harassment case. In protest, AIADMK members, the main opposition party, entered the Assembly wearing black shirts and badges that read “Who is that sir?” to highlight the fact that another individual linked to the harassment case had yet to be arrested. In response, the DMK government opted for a controversial approach by broadcasting only the speeches of DMK and its allied members during the session. For the remainder of the proceedings, the live feed displayed a blank screen with the message “Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Session 2025,” along with the government logo and an image of the assembly building. The broadcast resumed only when DMK and alliance MLAs spoke, effectively silencing the opposition.
In previous sessions, the camera was pointed toward DMK MLAs and ministers instead of focusing on opposition members, sparking outrage and criticism on social media.
This is not the first time such actions have been taken. In the past, the live feed was abruptly cut off during opposition protests, such as when opposition MLAs requested time to discuss the Kallakurichi issue.
During the 2023-24 budget session, AIADMK members staged a walkout, accusing the DMK government of airing only speeches from ministers and ignoring the opposition’s concerns about public issues. Opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami had even asked Assembly Speaker Appavu to at least air his speech, but the Speaker demanded that Palaniswami submit his speech in advance, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to freedom of speech and expression.
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