Chennai, Nov 10:
Kallakurichi TVK MLA C. Arul Vignesh has strongly denied allegations of sending inappropriate text messages to District Collector J.E. Padmaja and visiting her residence in an inebriated state, dismissing the reports as a politically motivated misinformation campaign orchestrated to defame him and the ruling party.
Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Arul Vignesh dismissed the allegations as “dirty politics” and pointed out the heavy security presence at the collector’s official premises: “Everyone came to know of the rumours. I am clearly saying that I have not done anything. Rumours are rumours. It is not true. MP (DMK MP Kanimozhi) alleged that I did this. The Collector’s bungalow has security guards and CCTV. How can I enter there?” He asserted that he has always maintained the highest respect for government officials, had never engaged in misconduct, and had initiated legal action against individuals circulating defamatory posts on social media.
The MLA’s response came amid severe criticism from opposition parties over the deployment of a specialized personal security officer (PSO) for the woman IAS officer. DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi questioned how the state administration could ensure the safety of citizens when a district administrative head faces harassment from a ruling party legislator: “How can the Chief Secretary ensure the safety of the District Collector merely by providing a separate security officer? Chief Minister, what is your answer to this issue?”
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami echoed similar concerns, asking: “If a District Collector, who is the administrative head and executive magistrate of a district, has no safety and faces harassment from a ruling party MLA, what answer will the Chief Minister give to the people? Is the Chief Minister afraid to act against his MLA to protect his thin majority?” AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran questioned whether the ruling party was harboring antisocial elements, while DMK leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin attacked Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for failing to rein in unruly legislators. Congress MP S. Jothimani also voiced concern, stating that while women hold nearly half of Tamil Nadu’s district collector posts, such misconduct tarnishes administrative credibility and warrants strict action at the threshold.
In response to the mounting political row, School Education Minister A. Rajmohan assured that the state government under Chief Minister Vijay maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment: “Under our CM’s administration, if an allegation is levelled against anyone, a thorough investigation will be conducted, and action will be taken without partiality.” He added that formal proceedings will be initiated once an official complaint is lodged.
The TVK leadership has summoned all party legislators to Panayur in Chennai for an emergency legislature party meeting on Wednesday, where an internal inquiry committee headed by TVK general secretary N. Anand is set to review the conduct of both Arul Vignesh and Deputy Speaker M. Ravisankar.