Vijay calls emergency meeting of TVK MLAs amid growing controversies
Amid mounting allegations against several Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) legislators, party president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has convened an urgent meeting of all party MLAs in Chennai on November 11.
The meeting will take place at 11 am at the party headquarters in Panaiyur. Vijay will preside over the discussions along with TVK general secretary Bussy Anand and other senior leaders and ministers.
According to party sources, the meeting has been called to address concerns over the conduct of elected representatives following a series of controversies involving Deputy Speaker Ravi Shankar and Kallakurichi MLA Arul Vignesh.
Ravi Shankar came under criticism after a video circulated on social media allegedly showed him assaulting Karthik Kumar, a photographer who had reportedly approached him over civic issues in his constituency.
The controversy intensified when Kumar subsequently released a video alongside the deputy speaker, claiming that the incident had been exaggerated and describing it as a minor altercation involving pushing and shoving in a crowded place.
However, Kumar later released another video alleging that he had been threatened with harm to his family unless he recorded the clarification. He also accused a police officer of intimidating him and compelling him to film the statement at the MLA’s residence.
Separately, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi Rajathi Karunanidhi alleged that Kallakurichi MLA Arul Vignesh had sent inappropriate messages to the district collector and harassed her, forcing her to arrange personal security.
A senior TVK minister told TNIE that an internal committee headed by party general secretary and minister N Anand would investigate the allegations against both legislators before the leadership decides on disciplinary measures.
The November 11 meeting is also expected to serve as a warning to all MLAs, with the leadership likely to lay down strict guidelines on public behaviour, constituency responsibilities and interactions with officials.