A cat fight of sorts unfolded between Chennai Mayor Priya and TVK MLA Pallavi has become the subject of widespread discussion on social media after a series of awkward exchanges during the inauguration of two government school buildings in Chennai’s Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zone.
The controversy unfolded during the inauguration of a new building for the Chennai Urdu Middle School, constructed at a cost of ₹3.24 crore. Chennai Mayor Priya, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar MLA Pallavi, Corporation officials and other dignitaries participated in the event.
According to reports, Pallavi, who had been pregnant during her election campaign, attended the function with her infant child.
The first flashpoint reportedly occurred during the inauguration of the Urdu school building. Before the building was formally opened, Mayor Priya arrived to cut the ribbon. Sources claimed that Pallavi was made to stand behind the Mayor during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
After entering the building, Mayor Priya proceeded to light the ceremonial kuthuvilakku. She then reportedly extended the candle in Pallavi’s direction. When Pallavi reached out to take it, the Mayor allegedly withdrew her hand and instead handed the candle to an IAS officer standing nearby.
The move reportedly left Pallavi upset, and she is said to have walked away from the event shortly afterwards.
The two leaders later participated in a second inauguration programme for a Chennai Primary School building in Ward 75, catering to students from LKG to Class V.
According to reports, Pallavi arrived at the venue before Mayor Priya for the second event.
During the lamp-lighting ceremony, Mayor Priya lit the kuthuvilakku and then offered the candle to Pallavi. However, Pallavi reportedly refused to accept it and told the Mayor to light the remaining wick herself.
The incident immediately triggered speculation that Pallavi’s refusal was a response to what had transpired during the earlier function.
When reporters later sought clarification from Mayor Priya regarding the controversy, her camp reportedly maintained that she had merely followed official protocol.
Mayor Priya claimed that once the Mayor lights the ceremonial lamp, protocol requires that the next wick be lit by the senior IAS officer present. She claimed that Pallavi, despite being the local MLA, attempted to take the candle without being aware of the prescribed protocol, following which the candle was handed to the IAS officer instead.
What Mayor @PriyarajanDMK says is completely wrong. (#TVKVijay) MLA @MR_PALLAVI_TVK is an elected representative of the people, while an IAS officer is an appointed civil servant. In the official order of precedence and government protocol, elected representatives generally rank… pic.twitter.com/dFcMosblkt
— Harish M (@chnmharish) June 4, 2026
Mayor Priya’s side also reportedly stated that MLA Pallavi was not aware of the protocol governing such official functions.
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