Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay responded strongly to the opposition DMK in the Assembly, refuting claims that his government acted as a proxy for any party and emphasizing its legitimacy from the people’s mandate. Vijay defended his administration’s achievements in law and order, education, social justice, and governance while criticizing the previous DMK regime for leaving unresolved issues.
Addressing concerns on law and order, Vijay welcomed constructive feedback but questioned the DMK’s effectiveness in combating drug-related crimes, highlighting his government’s efforts to tackle the drug menace and restore public trust. He also took a dig at opposition leaders demanding more speeches from him, suggesting that even his brief addresses had significant political impact, particularly targeting DMK President M.K. Stalin.
Regarding Centre-State relations, Vijay pledged a development-oriented approach for Tamil Nadu, expressing opposition to NEET and NEP while advocating for medical admissions based on Class 12 marks to safeguard the state’s educational interests. He defended his cabinet’s diversity, emphasizing representation for women and Scheduled Castes to uphold principles of social justice, contrasting it with the DMK’s stance.
Vijay dismissed allegations of relying on rival parties for support, asserting that the government stood independently with the backing of Left parties like CPI and CPI-M, asserting, “We are not anybody’s B-team. We are the People’s Team.” He concluded his speech with sarcastic remarks towards the Opposition, cautioning against governance lectures from those responsible for problems, sparking reactions from both sides of the Assembly.
