Vinodhini Vaidyanathan, an actress turned Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party functionary has made a colourist tweet targeting BJP Tamil Nadu leader K. Annamalai for his dark skin colour and looks.
Vinodhini took her official X handle to make racially discriminatory remarks, asserting that he was “born without looks, talent, or personality.”
This comes against the backdrop of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) President Kamal Haasan’s campaign support of DMK alliance candidate TR Baalu in Sriperumbudur, Haasan raised concerns regarding the BJP, alleging their intentions to modify the national flag from its tri-colour form to a single hue. Additionally, Haasan accused the BJP of aiming to relocate the national capital from New Delhi to Nagpur, a move he criticized for undermining the country’s secular principles. He argued that such a relocation would lead to India becoming a religiously homogeneous state, with Hindi becoming the mandated official language and mythology replacing history in the education curriculum. These assertions by the former actor turned politician prompted a swift response from Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP president and Coimbatore Lok Sabha candidate, who dismissed Haasan’s claims as unfounded and suggested he undergo a mental health evaluation.
''கமல்ஹாசனை மனநல மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்துச்சென்று பரிசோதிக்க வேண்டும்…'' – அண்ணாமலை…! #Coimbatore | #Annamalai | #MNM | #BJP | #ElectionCampaign | #KamalHassan | #TNElection pic.twitter.com/DOA4MiUuYA
— Polimer News (@polimernews) April 8, 2024
Responding to Annamalai’s dig at the part-time politician Kamal Haasan who has now allied with DMK, Vinodhini Vaidyanathan wrote on X page on 8 April 2024, saying, “Exactly why I said long back that Annamalai is incapable of making any long lasting friendships or relationships in any arena, political or personal. His deep rooted narcissistic tendencies coupled with an inferiority complex born of lack of looks, talent or personality, an inferiority complex that gets even more intense in front of his betters may even lead him to have psychopathic episodes in future. He is like the toxic ex that we all had. The man clearly needs help and it is high time someone like Dr Tamilisai, a calm and emotionally secure personality replaces him in whatever role he is in, in the party. I say whatever role because clearly he is not fit to be state, let alone any kind of president of anything. If anything, he is a bad precedent and I hope his superiors and cronies (also known as the war room henchmen) see this before it is too late for him. Truly an unfortunate damaged soul that needs our charity and compassion for his psychological issues more than our scorn and disdain for his stolid stupidity at this point.”
Exactly why I said long back that Annamalai is incapable of making any long lasting friendships or relationships in any arena, political or personal. His deep rooted narcissistic tendencies coupled with an inferiority complex born of lack of looks, talent or personality, an…
— Vinodhini Vaidynathan (@VinodhiniUnoffl) April 8, 2024
The online community who witnessed the post responded to her, stating that her remarks were racist. However, despite this feedback, MNM’s Vinothini persisted with her argument in subsequent posts, maintaining that leaders like Kamaraj, Abdul Kalam, and Vijayakanth were also dark-skinned, thereby implying that physical appearance, including skin color, was a factor in politics.
When did "looking good" become a benchmark in politics? I know many friends who tell me that Kamal looks pusillanimous, pansy and one lacking manliness. But i brush them off saying looks are subjective from one person to another.
What u did is BODY SHAMING. dont try to justify!!!— மாயோன்Tweetz | GTSR 🚩🕉️ (Modi Ka Parivar) (@vettrikondan786) April 9, 2024
Despite being informed and urged that her comments were both personal and racist in nature, she persisted in her post, attempting to justify her remarks stated, “When did I justify? You think I shoot off the mouth like your uncouth leader and then retract my comment? I stand by every word I’ve ever said on this platform, including my pinned tweet. Now if this is going to make more people go to my pinned tweet and read it, thereby increasing its reach to another few thousands, achievement unlocked.”
When did I justify? You think I shoot off the mouth like your uncouth leader and then retract my comment? I stand by every word I’ve ever said on this platform, including my pinned tweet. Now if this is going to make more people go to my pinned tweet and read it, thereby… https://t.co/6WH7ORPe3t
— Vinodhini Vaidynathan (@VinodhiniUnoffl) April 9, 2024
This reminds us of the historical approach of the DMK under Karunanidhi’s leadership in the 1950s. When unable to effectively argue or criticize the opposition, they often resorted to making personal attacks and racist remarks, finding satisfaction in such tactics. It appears that the MNM party is adopting a similar stance, particularly after securing a nominated Rajya Sabha seat as part of an alliance benefit.
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