DMK Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan has once again found herself at the centre of controversy, after her display of what can be called arrogant and dismissive attitude towards colleagues and staff. She already carries the baggage of a previous controversy involving a Corporation employee, and her latest public spat with TVK MLA MR Pallavi has reignited debate about her conduct in office.
The latest row unfolded during the inauguration of two government school buildings in Chennai’s Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zone. During the opening of a new ₹3.24-crore building for the Chennai Urdu Middle School, Mayor Priya, MLA Pallavi, Corporation officials and senior bureaucrats were present. Pallavi, who had campaigned while pregnant during the election, attended the event carrying her infant child.
According to reports, the first signs of tension emerged during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where Pallavi was allegedly made to stand behind the Mayor despite being the elected MLA of the constituency. The situation escalated during the ceremonial lamp-lighting when Priya reportedly extended the candle towards Pallavi, only to pull it back when the MLA reached out and instead hand it to a nearby IAS officer.
The move reportedly upset Pallavi, who is said to have left the event shortly afterwards. Priya’s camp later defended the incident by citing protocol, claiming that after the Mayor lights the first wick, the next wick should be lit by the senior IAS officer present. The explanation, however, drew criticism from many who argued that an elected representative should not be publicly sidelined in favour of an appointed bureaucrat.
The controversy intensified during a second inauguration programme later the same day at a Chennai Primary School in Ward 75. This time, when Priya reportedly offered the candle to Pallavi during the lamp-lighting ceremony, the MLA refused to accept it and instead asked the Mayor to light the remaining wick herself. The gesture was widely interpreted as a response to the earlier incident.
The episode has also revived memories of the 2024 “lipstick controversy” involving Greater Chennai Corporation dafadar S.B. Madhavi. Madhavi alleged that she was transferred from the Mayor’s office after refusing to comply with informal instructions regarding her appearance. According to her, Mayor Priya’s office objected to her wearing lipstick and bright-coloured saris while performing official duties.
Madhavi stated that Mayor Priya’s personal assistant, Siva Sankar, instructed her not to wear lipstick because ministers, embassy officials and other dignitaries frequently visited the Mayor’s office. She refused to comply and challenged officials to produce any government order prohibiting such attire. Soon afterwards, she was transferred to the Manali zone.
While the Corporation cited dereliction of duty and disobedience as the reasons for the transfer, Madhavi denied the allegations and maintained that the only instruction she had refused to follow concerned lipstick. She further alleged that she had been repeatedly asked to tone down her appearance and restrict interactions with officials from other departments.
Although Priya denied that the transfer was linked to the lipstick issue, the controversy created an impression of a Mayor’s office preoccupied with controlling appearances and protocol. Combined with the latest Pallavi episode, a pattern has emerged in which Priya appears more focused on asserting authority than fostering cooperation.
For a Mayor who frequently speaks about inclusivity and women’s empowerment, allegations of publicly slighting a fellow woman elected representative and policing the appearance of a female Corporation employee continue to cast a shadow over her public image.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
