Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin has landed in the middle of a political row after making a controversial remark during a public address on the Cauvery issue, prompting strong reactions from both the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the BJP.

While speaking at an event, Stalin was interrupted by members of the audience chanting the name of actor Trisha. He briefly paused before responding with a remark that many interpreted as an innuendo aimed at the actor, who has frequently been linked on social media to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, her longtime co-star and friend.

A video of the exchange quickly spread online, triggering widespread criticism across political circles.

TVK MLA Rhevanth Charan condemned the statement, describing it as inappropriate and unbecoming of a senior political leader. He said the episode reflected poorly on political discourse and accused Stalin of lowering the standards of public debate.

The BJP also launched a strong attack. Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy termed the remark vulgar and offensive, arguing that such language had no place in public life. He demanded legal action against Stalin and said strict measures should be taken over the comments.

BJP leader Vinoj P. Selvam echoed the criticism, expressing disappointment that an actor-turned-politician would make personal remarks involving another member of the film fraternity. He also suggested that industry bodies should publicly respond to the controversy.

The incident has once again placed Stalin under the spotlight over his public statements. The former actor-turned-politician had previously courted controversy for remarks on Sanatan Dharma, comparing it to diseases that should be eradicated. Those comments sparked nationwide outrage and eventually came under scrutiny before the Supreme Court.

The latest controversy comes shortly after the DMK lost power in Tamil Nadu to Joseph Vijay-led TVK, which secured a surprise victory in its electoral debut. In the days following the election defeat, Stalin had reiterated several of his earlier political positions during proceedings in the state Assembly.

The controversy surrounding his latest remarks is expected to intensify political exchanges between the DMK, the ruling TVK and the BJP in the coming days.