TVK’s political machinery is reportedly spending crores to push Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s image beyond Tamil Nadu, with influencers in northern states being used to build a national profile and project him as a future Prime Minister. Yet, back home in Tamil Nadu, the same TVK government has removed Hindi from a state highway signboard meant to guide motorists travelling through the state.
The controversy erupted in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi, where a newly installed State Highways Department signboard on SH-93 displayed place names in Tamil, Hindi and English.
The Tamil Nadu government said the Hindi lettering was removed immediately after officials became aware that the signboard, which carried place names in Tamil and English, also featured them in Hindi.
According to a government press release issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations on 2 October 2026, the signboard had been installed on the state highway near the Karumeni river bridge at the Tiruchendur Road junction in Sathankulam. It indicated routes towards Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Alwarthirunagari and Tirunelveli.
The signboard reportedly displayed the place names in Tamil first, followed by Hindi and then English. The inclusion of Hindi attracted public attention as signboards installed by the State Highways Department generally carry names in Tamil and English, while some other boards reportedly have Hindi lettering placed separately, as reported in Daily Thanthi.
The issue subsequently gained traction on social media, with the presence of Hindi on a state government road signboard drawing criticism.
Following the controversy, the Hindi lettering on the signboard was removed. The Tamil Nadu government has now suspended the Assistant Divisional Engineer and Assistant Engineer of the Highways Department who were responsible for the signboard.
The government also said departmental action was being initiated against the officials.
In its statement, the Tamil Nadu government said that the inclusion of Hindi on the state highway signboard was contrary to the State’s two-language policy and warned that strict action would be taken against government officials found acting against the policy.
Two officials responsible for the inclusion of Hindi lettering on the state highway signboard have been suspended. pic.twitter.com/3P7kPCVfyK
— Vignesh Theni (@Vignesh_twitz) October 2, 2026
This is a bit rich coming from the TVK government which on the one hand is seeking to project Joseph Vijay to audiences across North India as a national political figure, and on the other, its government is taking disciplinary action over Hindi appearing on public road signage in Tamil Nadu.
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