CPI(M) leader condemns Vijay for ‘body shaming’ Stalin - The Hindu

**CPI(M) leader condemns Vijay for “body shaming” Stalin**

*Chennai, September 8 — The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly became a flashpoint on Monday after DMK MLA Vijay addressed Chief Minister M. K. Stalin in a manner that was widely described as “body shaming.” During a heated debate on the Sarkaria Commission report, Vijay allegedly remarked that the chief minister’s “stout physique” was a “symbol of complacency,” a comment that quickly attracted criticism from across the political spectrum. The remark, which was recorded in the official proceedings, prompted a chorus of objections from opposition legislators, who called the language unbecoming of a parliamentary forum.*

*The party’s state secretary, K. Anbazhagan, speaking on behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), denounced Vijay’s comments as “personal vilification that distracts from substantive policy discourse.” Anbazhagan urged Vijay to issue an unconditional apology and warned that such attacks undermine the dignity of the House. “The assembly should be a place for ideas, not a stage for body‑shaming or ad‑hominem attacks,” he said, adding that the CPI(M) would seek a formal censure if the matter is not rectified through the Speaker’s office.*

*Vijay’s outburst has intensified an already volatile atmosphere in the assembly. Earlier in the session, DMK legislators staged a sit‑in protest demanding the expunction of the chief minister’s earlier remarks on the Sarkaria Commission and the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), leading to their eviction by the Speaker. The episode follows a series of confrontational exchanges, including a recent “Monday Matinee” dialogue by Vijay that referenced past controversies surrounding the DMK. As the legislature grapples with these internal disputes, opposition parties have called for stricter enforcement of decorum rules, while the DMK maintains that its members are merely exercising robust debate on critical governance issues.

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