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When ‘Melting Point’ Had A Meltdown: DMK Spokie Saravanan Goes On Abusive Spree Against AIADMK Spokesperson

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The Commune
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What was supposed to be a political debate on News18 Tamil Nadu’s Sollathigaaram quickly turned into a full-blown verbal brawl. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai didn’t just argue his point — he unloaded a stream of personal insults on AIADMK IT Wing President M. Kovai Sathyan. The topic on paper was coalition politics, but within minutes it was all about name-calling and shouting. The anchor, instead of reining things in, seemed happy to let the DMK man go off, adding fuel to long-standing accusations that the channel plays cheerleader for the ruling party rather than referee.

The controversy unfolded during the debate show Sollathigaaram, where the topic of discussion was, “Is the DMK Dominating the Alliance?” Kovai Sathyan, representing the AIADMK, was interrupted repeatedly as he attempted to respond to the panel. As soon as he made his comment, he was cut off by DMK spokesperson and Joint Secretary of the party’s media wing, Saravanan Annadurai, who launched personal attacks. Rather than intervening, the show’s anchor, Balavel Chakravarthi, appeared to join in the verbal onslaught.

The back-and-forth continued for nearly three minutes, with Kovai Sathyan struggling to make his point. Eventually, the host shifted focus to another panelist, effectively sidelining Sathyan. AIADMK supporters have called this a deliberate move to prevent any meaningful critique of the DMK, accusing the channel of stifling opposition voices under the guise of moderation.

Below are the excerpts from the Debate:

Kovai Sathyan said, “I’ll sum it up in one line. A grandfather who once boarded a train without a ticket now has a family listed among Asia’s richest.”

This triggered an immediate outburst from Saravanan and the anchor. Despite Sathyan clarifying that he hadn’t named anyone and that the viewers should decide the intent, the anchor insisted his comment was inappropriate.

Anchor responded saying, “We are trying to use good words and having a dignified, constructive conversation. You (sathyan) asked for a chance to respond to his comments, I’m giving you time.”

Saravanan angrily shouted saying, “Yow! Stop it. Stop it. Are you a human? you are a person who celebrates person who twisted incense sticks. You are a person who celebrates person who went to jail as ‘thalaivi’. What are they speaking? A person who buttress for the corrupt party. Why are you calling such low-level person for debate?”

Sathyan retorted, “Did I name anyone?”

Saravanan was shouting repeatedly saying, “Why are you calling such low-level person for debate?” He was repeatedly stressing these word many times.

Anchor said, “We are using good words and having a dignified, constructive conversation. You (sathyan) asked for a chance to respond to his comments, I’m giving you time, but why are you misusing it?”

Sathyan again asked, “Did I name anyone?” Anchor replied, “The same rhetoric he puts forth. He also says they twisted incense sticks.” Anchor asked, “Is that a necessary argument?”

Sathyan retorted, “Let the people decide which is necessary or not. Have I named anyone? Only the guilty conscience reacting.”

Anchor buttressed saying, “That’s different, used in the street-corner meeting talk. You asked for an opportunity but the answer for the question was not this. I’m the host I should say that was not the answer.”

Sathyan called out his hypocrisy saying, “No. No. Even when he uses unparliamentary language, you don’t interrupt. Yet, I’m being cut off.”  

Anchor tried to buttress his stance saying, “I told you I’d give you the time to respond. You didn’t use that opportunity properly.”

Sathyan responding sharply, “Alright, let’s me keep it like this. The Karunanidhi family who once boarded a train without a ticket.”

Saravanan shouting said, “He comes from a party that celebrates murder convicts! What can we expect? Don’t bring such low-level people to debates. Don’t you have shame? Shameless!”

Finally Sathyan blasted Saravanan saying, “I’m saying this now, I don’t want to cross my boundaries of decorum. If it’s a public meeting, set up a stage Saravanan; can speak wherever he wants. Let’s see how you talk and how I talk. Just wearing a coat suit doesn’t make you a civilized person; it’s in the words you speak. Learn that first.”

Yet Saravanan provoked him saying, “Lowlife.”

Throughout the exchange, the anchor chose to reprimand only Kovai Sathyan, remarking, “That applies to Sathyan as well,” while pointedly remaining silent about Saravanan’s repeated slurs.

Past Incident Highlights Pattern of Alleged Bias

This is not the first time News18 Tamil Nadu has been accused of silencing AIADMK representatives. In an earlier debate on the 2025 Tamil Nadu Budget, senior AIADMK leader Kalyanasundaram clashed with the channel’s Editor-in-Chief, Karthigaichelvan.

During the debate, Kalyanasundaram was trying to make a point about ‘Earned Leave Surrender System’ for state government employees when Karthigaichelvan interjected and said, “He’s talking about Surrender Leave. Who stopped it? What I’m asking is what did they promise in their election manifesto for government workers?”to which Karthigaichelvan interjected and asked “Did your (AIADMK) government stop it or not is what I’m asking? Okay.. You’re saying they (DMK) didn’t fulfil their promise.”

Irked by Karthigaichelvan’s intervention, Kalyanasundaram responded saying “Do you want my response or do you want me to support whatever he (DMK MLA I. Paranthamen) says and leave?” This statement of Kalyanasundaram seems to have unsettled News 18 Tamil Nadu Editor-in-Chief Karthigaichelvan.

Kalyanasundaram continued that in the first round of the debate itself he posed the question of the DMK government not fulfilling its promise to government workers. And just as he completed, Karthigaichelvan interjected again saying “I’m coming to you sir” repeatedly to which Kalyanasundaram angrily responded “You keep watching him (DMK spokesperson) talk but when I talk for every line you keep interjecting and saying – I’m coming to you, I’m coming to you. Tell me. You ask your question fully and then I’ll answer. He (DMK spokesperson) is blatantly talking lies and you allow that but you keep intervening whenever I talk.“

With Kalyanasundaram exposing the bias of Karthigaichelvan, the latter took to defend himself saying “I’m not asking you any question now. Whatever criticisms you have against me, you say.” Kalyanasundaram further asked “Sir, don’t keep talking like this. Why do you want to do this (virtue-signalling) only during my chance?” to which Karthigaichelvan challenged that he never made any interventions during the first round.

Kalyanasundaram however pointed that Karthigaichelvan never dared to make an intervention when the DMK spokesperson was speaking and peddling lies. “You ask your questions first completely. I will respond later,” the AIADMK spokesperson thundered at Karthigaichelvan to which the latter responded that he can take the time he wants to convey his points and not cast aspersions on him.

“I don’t expect Kalyanasundaram to be like other people. He’s a very knowledgeable person. I am expecting your point of view. Both of you belong to main parties. Please come up with points. There’s nothing in criticising me,” said Karthigaichelvan.

“Why did you intervene now?” Kalyanasundaram asked once again to which Karthigaichelvan said “What I’m saying is, criticisms against me is unwarranted and that I was coming to ask about your point only.” The News 18 Tamil Nadu Editor-In-Chief kept on justifying that he didn’t intervene at all.

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