‘Come out of Trisha’s house’: TN BJP chief’s swipe at Vijay sparks row; DMK says ‘they follow Manu dharma’

Nainar Nagendrana and Vijay

• BJP's Nagendran faces backlash for remark on Vijay, Trisha
• DMK and Congress condemn BJP's comments as disrespectful
• BJP defends Nagendran, accuses DMK of twisting his words

Did our AI summary help?

A political flashpoint has erupted in Tamil Nadu after state BJP president Nainar Nagendran made a personal remark about actor-turned-politician Vijay, drawing sharp criticism from rival parties ahead of the Assembly elections due before May.

The controversy began when Nagendran responded to Vijay’s assertion that his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), would emerge as the principal challenger to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the upcoming polls.

Questioning Vijay’s political experience, the BJP leader took a swipe that many described as inappropriate.

“Poor man, he is completely inexperienced. First, he needs to come out of his house. Come out of Trisha’s house first, then something can happen,” Nagendran has been quoted as saying by India Today.

He also mocked Vijay’s political ambitions, remarking that someone “who cannot even climb onto a rooftop is dreaming of climbing to heaven.”

When later asked about the comment, Nagendran did not retract his statement. “I said it only once,” he was quoted as saying.

DMK slams BJP over women’s respect

The remarks quickly triggered condemnation from leaders of the ruling DMK, who accused the BJP of showing disregard for women.

DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan alleged that the comment reflected the party’s ideological outlook. “They follow Manu Dharma, which never gives respect to women. Naturally, he will speak like that. That is why the people of Tamil Nadu are against the BJP. They will ill-treat women. They are known for it,” Elangovan said.

The controversy has added to the already heated political climate in the state, where parties are intensifying their campaigns as elections approach.

Congress questions personal attack

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief Selvaperunthagai also condemned the remark, questioning the relevance of dragging actor Trisha into a political debate.

“It’s shocking. Why is he talking about Trisha? The BJP has a lot of work in the country, yet he is talking about personal lives. It’s not fair. Personal comments should not be made in politics. One must not malign someone with such remarks,” he said.

His criticism underscored the broader opposition view that political discourse should avoid references to individuals’ private lives.

BJP defends state president

Amid the backlash, BJP leaders defended Nagendran, insisting his words were not meant to offend.

BJP leader Vijayadharani accused the DMK of deliberately twisting the statement. “It is the DMK that normally maligns women. When I left the Congress party and joined the BJP, the DMK was persistent in making bad remarks about me. It is the DMK’s usual stance to target women, harass them, and speak very badly about them. Whatever comments by our state president were made in good sense and cannot be twisted. The DMK is purposely distorting them,” she said.

As the row continues to escalate, the exchange has sharpened the rhetoric between the BJP, the DMK led by MK Stalin, and Vijay’s TVK. With the state heading into a crucial electoral season, the controversy has further intensified political sparring among the parties vying for influence in Tamil Nadu.