Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK party finds itself in the midst of a fresh controversy after a video from Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin’s birthday celebration surfaced online, showing Cooperative Minister S. Periyakaruppan applauding a dance performance that social media users and the opposition BJP have labelled as “obscene” and “inappropriate.”
The footage, which has gone viral across various platforms, captures Minister Periyakaruppan seated in the front row at the event alongside other district-level party functionaries. The controversy stems from two key moments in the video: the nature of the performance by scantily-clad dancers, and the minister’s apparent reaction to it. The video also appears to show Periyakaruppan allegedly gesturing and asking the performers to come down from the stage and dance closer to the audience, a claim that has intensified the criticism.
This is a minister in TN cabinet periyakaruppan getting girls to dance in this manner in front of him and all his party cadres to celebrate Udhayanidhi birthday. 👌 pic.twitter.com/aSODzpTrm3
— kishore k swamy 🇮🇳 (@sansbarrier) November 26, 2025
BJP Launches Scathing Attack, Calls Incident a “Grave Disgrace”
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Tamil Nadu unit seized the opportunity to launch a vehement attack on the DMK government. Sharing the video extensively, the state BJP condemned the incident, calling it “a grave disgrace.”
In an official statement, the party posed a series of pointed questions, linking the incident to broader issues of governance and women’s safety. “How can women raise their grievances when leaders like Periyakaruppan summon women in semi-nude attire, make them dance close to them, and applaud women in enjoyment?” the statement questioned.
The BJP’s condemnation did not stop at the minister’s actions. It also targeted the culture of the DMK leadership, stating, “The height of slavery is for senior ministers to celebrate the birthday of someone who is sitting on the post of Deputy Chief Minister without any qualification.” The statement further accused the government of promoting “obscene festivals” for entertainment while the state’s law and order situation is “broken.”
“It is shameful that the government machinery, from the Chief Minister to senior ministers, is only focused on entertainment,” the BJP alleged, adding, “How can we expect a civilized administration from DMK people who have been promoting only physical politics for a long time?”
Social Media Erupts, Public Trust Questioned
The video has triggered a firestorm on social media, with users from across the political spectrum expressing outrage. Many users have called the performance inappropriate for a public figure to endorse, arguing that it sets a poor example and objectifies women.
A recurring theme in the online criticism has been questioning the DMK’s proclaimed commitment to social reform, self-respect, and rationalism. Critics are asking how the party’s leaders can champion these ideals while simultaneously enjoying what they perceive as lewd entertainment. “Do such people have even the slightest qualification to talk about self-respect and rationality?” the BJP’s statement echoed, a sentiment shared by many online.