Tamil Nadu's Leader of Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, was taken into custody on Tuesday shortly after police registered a case against him over comments made at a public meeting that many interpreted as an indirect reference to actor Trisha. The remarks, delivered during his criticism of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over the Cauvery water issue, have sparked a major political controversy across the state.

Following the registration of the case, police personnel reached Stalin's residence in Chennai and detained him. At the same time, the DMK leader approached the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail, with the matter scheduled for hearing later in the day.

Speaking to the media while being escorted by police, Udhayanidhi defended himself, insisting that he had not said anything inappropriate. He maintained that he had referred only to the Chief Minister and described the action against him as politically motivated, adding that the courts would ultimately decide the matter.

The controversy erupted during a speech focused on the Cauvery dispute and the state's efforts to secure water rights. As Stalin addressed the gathering, members of the audience began chanting "Trisha." Pausing briefly, he responded with a remark that critics have described as a sexual innuendo linked to speculation surrounding Vijay and actor Trisha's friendship.

The statement quickly drew condemnation from political parties across Tamil Nadu, with critics accusing Stalin of using language unbecoming of a public representative and disrespectful towards women.

Leaders from the ruling TVK launched a sharp attack on the DMK leader. TVK functionary Aadhav Arjuna accused Udhayanidhi of dragging political discourse to a new low and alleged that his comments reflected an insulting attitude towards women.

Arjuna claimed that such statements tarnished the legacy of Tamil political traditions and argued that the public, particularly women voters, would reject leaders who resort to such language.

TVK spokesperson Felix Gerald also criticised Stalin, questioning whether he would be comfortable repeating the same remarks before his own family members.

The BJP joined the criticism, with party spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy describing the comments as offensive and demanding strict legal action. Senior BJP leaders, including K. Annamalai and Khushbu Sundar, also condemned the remarks, with Sundar calling for an unconditional apology to actor Trisha.

Annamalai mocked Stalin's speech in a social media post, while Sundar argued that women should never be used as targets in political battles and urged the Opposition leader to publicly apologise.

Despite the backlash, the DMK rallied behind Udhayanidhi. Former minister T. Mano Thangaraj accused opponents of deliberately shifting the focus away from the Cauvery crisis and the concerns of farmers.

Rejecting the allegations against Stalin, Thangaraj described the controversy as an attempt to manufacture outrage and suppress criticism of the state government. He urged political parties to concentrate on policy debates rather than personal attacks.

As legal proceedings continue, the episode has reignited a wider debate over political rhetoric, public conduct and the boundaries of acceptable speech in Tamil Nadu's increasingly polarised political landscape.