Why Keerthana stayed back: The health controversy around Vijay’s London trip

When Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay recently travelled to London to flag off his cinema colleague Ajith Kumar’s car race and seek fresh investments for the state, one conspicuous absence from his delegation triggered a political storm. Industries Minister S. Keerthana, whose portfolio places her at the heart of the state’s investment-promotion machinery, was not part of the team. At the same time, PWD and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna and top officers from the CMO accompanied the chief minister.

Back home in the state, the focus of the discussions quickly shifted from the chief minister’s investment meetings in London to the question of why Keerthana had stayed behind. Social media was abuzz with questions after Aadhav Arjuna said at a press conference that Keerthana had been unwell for "four days", adding that details of her condition could not be disclosed.

The absence of a detailed explanation fuelled speculation, with social media users even turning the phrase “four days” into a subject of ridicule. The controversy took an unsavoury turn when some netizens began speculating about the nature of her illness, including making references to menstruation.

An explanation eventually came from Keerthana’s side. In an Instagram post, her personal assistant, Ravi Teja, said that she had undergone neck surgery at Kamakshi Hospital. 

“Doctors had advised the minister to take around 20 days of rest. Instead, Keerthana returned to work within four days,” he said in the post. Her team also said that she continued to monitor the London investment programme while she was in hospital. 

Keerthana is among the youngest ministers in Vijay’s first cabinet and the only woman in the initial council of ministers. Her growing public profile has already made her a target of intense social media scrutiny. In August, a separate controversy erupted after a video of another woman in a short dress was falsely circulated as being Keerthana, prompting her to speak out against online misogyny.

For the government, the immediate issue is therefore not simply why Keerthana missed the foreign investment tour, but also how the personal health information of a young woman minister became fodder for political debate. TVK’s explanation is straightforward: Keerthana was recovering from surgery, had been advised by doctors to take an extended period of rest, and nevertheless resumed official responsibilities within four days. Her supporters argue that her continued involvement in the London investment programme demonstrated her commitment to the state’s investment drive.

The controversy has also underscored another reality of politics in the social media age: how quickly speculation can fill a vacuum of information.