Tamil Nadu CM Vijay apologises for minister’s Karunanidhi remark

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay apologised in the Assembly on Monday after Forest Minister R V Ranjith Kumar referred to former chief minister M Karunanidhi by name without using customary honorifics. India Today, Hindustan Times, and The Times of India report that Vijay said "I apologise on his behalf" and stopped the minister mid-speech to calm the House.

The remark came during a debate on demands for grants for Health and Revenue departments. Kumar was criticising past cash-for-votes practices and referred to the "Thirumangalam formula", claiming up to Rs 1,500 per vote had been distributed in his Kancheepuram constituency. He contrasted this with the current government, saying it came to power without distributing money.

DMK members led by former minister K K S S R Ramachandran protested the omission of titles such as "Kalaignar" or "former chief minister". Vijay acknowledged the breach of long-standing assembly convention and his apology ended the disruption, allowing the debate to continue.