A remark by DMK Chief MK Stalin targeting TVK’s Dharapuram bypoll candidate Sathyabhama has triggered criticism from the ruling party, which has accused the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister of body-shaming the woman Dalit candidate and demanded an apology.
There is also another name – Somersault Bhama. I don’t know how she did the somersault with that figure.”
Referring to allegations of money being involved in the political switch, Stalin said: “You people now call their candidate who acted against truth as Suitcase-Bhama.
The party has demanded an apology from the DMK chief. The TVK had come to power promising good governance and a corruption-free administration. The TVK has denied allegations of horse-trading and has argued that elected legislators are entitled to resign and join another party, without attracting disqualification under the anti-defection law.
The issue had also come into focus during the trust vote of the minority TVK government, when more than 20 rebel AIADMK MLAs voted in favour of the ruling government.
TVK leader and Health Minister Arun Raj accused Stalin of body-shaming Sathyabhama and said the remark amounted to an insult to women and the Dalit community. However, the DMK and AIADMK have accused the ruling party of what they describe as “scientific horse-trading” after six sitting AIADMK MLAs, including former ministers, resigned their seats weeks after the Assembly election and subsequently joined the TVK.
