CPI(M) leader condemns Vijay for ‘body shaming’ Stalin - thehindu.com

**CPI(M) Leader Condemns Chief Minister Vijay’s “Body‑Shaming” Remarks on Stalin**

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) has publicly rebuked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin Vijay for what it described as “body shaming” directed at senior leader M. K. Stalin during a recent Assembly session. The criticism was voiced by CPI(M) State Secretary K. Anand, who said Vijay’s gestures – notably a “broken‑jaw” motion that mimicked a clenched mouth – crossed the line of decorum and targeted Stalin’s physical appearance. Anand called the act “a blatant personal attack that undermines the spirit of parliamentary debate,” and urged the Speaker to take appropriate disciplinary action.

The controversy erupted after Vijay employed the gesture while addressing the Assembly’s discussion on the Sarkaria Commission and the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) immediately protested, accusing the CM of disrespecting a senior leader and inflaming communal sensitivities. In response, the Speaker ordered the removal of several DMK MLAs who staged a sit‑in protest demanding an official expunction of Vijay’s remarks from the Assembly record. The move sparked further anger within the DMK, which labeled the speaker’s decision as “authoritarian” and called for a collective walk‑out.

Amid the mounting pressure, CM Vijay sought to defuse the situation by stating that his “broken‑jaw” gesture was not intended to hurt anyone and was merely a rhetorical device to underscore his point. He reiterated his respect for all colleagues, including Stalin, and pledged to avoid any such gestures in the future. The episode has reignited debate over the limits of political expression in legislative forums and highlighted the fraught relationship between the ruling AIADMK and the opposition parties, especially the DMK and CPI(M), ahead of upcoming state elections. Observers note that while Vijay’s clarification may soothe some critics, the episode has already left a mark on the already tense political climate in Tamil Nadu.