Healthy debates, discussions and political arguments have always taken centre stage inside the floor of the assembly in Tamil Nadu. As a journalist who had covered the assembly proceedings for over two decades, I have seen the house always dominated by veshti-clad legislators who used to talk fluently in classical Tamil. Some used to refer their written speech copies, but others used to have just notes and build their speech over it. But 2026 has brought in a complete makeover in the floor of the assembly.
The veshti-shirt ensemble, once the uniform of the Dravidian political elite, has turned into history in the 17th assembly. Most legislators are aged under 40. The classical Tamil is not the language inside the assembly. Colloquial Tamil, sharp exchanges and quick replies to the opposition by the treasury benches marked the budget session, which ended on August 12.
And many of the ruling party legislators have picked up the debating skills. The ministers who once were trying hard to get a grip of their portfolio were seen making swift repartees to the opposition. Ministers Aadhav Arjuna, Rajmohan and even N. Anand, who used to get trolled for his Tamil pronunciation, stood up to answer. And Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar too was very generous in giving time to the opposition and making them put forth their views.
However, all these positives were taken off by two comments, which sources say, had actually angered Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The corridors of power in the secretariat are abuzz with talks that Vijay personally calls and instructs the ministers who are underperforming or making improper statements in the assembly. While a few of the ministers are already in the line of fire and there could be a cabinet reshuffle once the assembly session gets over, sources say that he warned PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna and Finance Minister Marie Wilson for their inappropriate comments in the assembly. Arjuna pulled up the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Udhayanidhi Stalin, asking the latter to reply on the donation given through electoral bonds by his father-in-law Santiago Martin. Marie Wilson called himself a “born Christian” and asserted that Tamil couldn’t teach him the language of love, while the Bible did that. “Christianity had taught me the language of love, the language of peace, the language of compassion. No matter how much Tamil is studied, some people will not understand these values. I have read it in the Bible. I am a born Christian,” Wilson said in the Assembly.
While Arjuna’s was only a passing statement to pull up the opposition, Wilson’s remark has put the ruling TVK government on the defensive. Added to his comment was speaker Prabhakar’s anti-abortion statement outside the assembly. Though the government had sought to distance its health policy from Speaker Prabhakar’s personal views, Wilson’s reply has led to the opposition accusing it of allowing religion to enter public policy and constitutional offices. Sources say that it was after Vijay’s stern warning, Wilson changed his tone in the assembly, which was almost like pleading apology for his statement.
Being in the treasury benches doesn’t mean just replying to the opposition’s accusations. Sources say that Vijay was briefed by the officers about Wilson’s remarks that it could create a religious unrest in the state. Vijay is particular that all his cabinet colleagues make sensible remarks while upholding the religious neutrality that he propagated before the election.
