A government function in Virudhunagar witnessed an awkward moment after Tamil Nadu Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Jegadeshwari publicly confronted District Collector Sukaputhra over the order in which ministers’ names were displayed on the event banner.
The incident occurred on Friday during a prize distribution ceremony organised by the Sports Department at the Virudhunagar District Collectorate to honour silambam athletes, as reported in Vikatan.
The stage banner listed the dignitaries who were to distribute prizes and certificates. Industrial Investment Promotion and Commerce Minister Keerthana’s name appeared first, followed by Minister Jegadeshwari’s.
Soon after arriving on the stage, Jegadeshwari questioned the District Collector over the banner, pointing out that as the Minister in charge of Virudhunagar district, her name should have been placed first.
Addressing the Collector in front of officials and attendees, Jegadeshwari said, “As the in-charge minister of this district, my name should be first. Why have you put the name of Minister Keerthana first? You have put the name of the minister who did not attend the event first. Don’t you know the protocol?”
She further expressed her displeasure with the officials, stating that the issue had been pointed out to them repeatedly but the same mistake continued to occur.
“I have said this many times. Despite repeatedly bringing it to the officials’ attention, they keep making the same mistake over and over again. Should I participate in this event, or should I just get up and leave?” she asked the District Collector.
The Collector attempted to pacify the minister by assuring her that the mistake would not be repeated.
“This will not happen again, Madam,” the Collector responded.
Jegadeshwari, however, insisted that such lapses should come to an end.
“This kind of trend should be stopped,” she told the Collector.
The exchange briefly disrupted the programme before it resumed. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.
“அமைச்சர் கீர்த்தனாவின் பெயர் ஏன் முதலில் இருக்கிறது?
மாவட்ட பொறுப்பு அமைச்சர் என்ற ரீதியில் என் பெயரே முதலில் வர வேண்டும்..”- விருதுநகரில் சிலம்ப வீரர்களுக்கு பரிசளிக்கும் விழாவில் ஆட்சியரிடம் கேள்வி எழுப்பிய அமைச்சர் ஜெகதீஸ்வரி#MinisterJegadeeswari | #Virudhunagar |… pic.twitter.com/F8ivezF0Gc
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) June 26, 2026
Reported Differences Between Two Ministers
The incident comes amid reports of friction involving Minister Keerthana in Virudhunagar district.
Jegadeshwari is the Minister in charge of Virudhunagar district, while Keerthana has been assigned charge of Krishnagiri district.
According to reports, differences have persisted in recent weeks between supporters of Minister Keerthana and the Virudhunagar district party leadership. There have also been reported instances of banners featuring Keerthana being torn down in the district.
Reports further suggest that although Keerthana is a native of Virudhunagar, her supporters have insisted that her name be included on invitations and banners for both government and party events held in the district.
At the same time, reports indicate that despite being the Minister in charge of Krishnagiri district, Keerthana has yet to make regular visits there, leading to dissatisfaction among some party functionaries.
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