DMK Clashes With TVK Government Over Crime Rates in Tamil Nadu Assembly

On June 19, 2026, a heated debate erupted in the Tamil Nadu assembly in Chennai as the opposition DMK clashed with the ruling TVK over the state's law and order situation. DMK legislator S Austin accused Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of remaining silent on rising crimes against women and children, prompting strong defenses from state ministers.

Speaking during the motion of thanks to the governor's address, Austin, the MLA representing Kanyakumari, claimed that the one-month-old TVK government had completely failed in its administration. He asserted that voters who sought change are now disappointed, reflecting a growing public perception of administrative failure.

Austin sharpened his criticism by highlighting the rising crime rates against women and children, pointing out that Chief Minister Vijay had chosen to remain "tight-lipped." This remark drew a sharp response from Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Aadhav Arjuna.

Arjuna intervened to defend the Chief Minister, stating that Vijay is working hard and knows "when to speak and what to speak." Arjuna also alluded to the electoral defeat of former Chief Minister M K Stalin in the Kolathur constituency of Chennai during the assembly polls, which sparked strong condemnation and protests from the DMK benches.

Austin continued his speech, alleging that the TVK party had risen to power primarily by utilizing social media platforms like Instagram. He argued that it was unjustifiable to compare the current Chief Minister with historic leaders such as C N Annadurai and M G Ramachandran, who actively fought for public rights. He also dismissed the governor's address as an empty statement lacking new guarantees or announcements.

The debate further escalated when Austin claimed that Chief Minister Vijay's order to establish a special anti-narcotics task force remained only on paper. School Education Minister A Rajmohan rejected this accusation, stating that the TVK government has arrested 4,000 anti-social elements, including drug peddlers, and confiscated and destroyed contrabands worth Rs 10.56 crore.