Overview
- The Assembly session on Thursday turned chaotic after Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu questioned past Dalit representation and contrasted VCK’s treatment under the previous DMK-led government with its current ministerial place, prompting DMK MLAs to rise, mock his remarks and block his speech for several minutes.
- Speaker interventions repeatedly tried to restore order but the disruptions prevented any policy decisions on the Social Justice Department’s demand for grants from being completed.
- Lawmakers used the two-day debate to press two central policy questions: whether Tamil Nadu should pursue a caste survey and how the government plans to allocate and oversee the announced Rs 25,000 crore for SC/ST welfare.
- Opposition and ruling benches traded claims about past programs and audits, with DMK defenders citing equality initiatives and TVK ministers citing alleged misuses and gaps in caste enumeration, while speakers from both sides invoked Ambedkar and regional leaders to frame the dispute.
- The spat underscores deeper coalition and caste politics in Tamil Nadu and could force follow-up scrutiny of the Rs 25,000 crore package, formal proposals on caste enumeration, and negotiations over how Dalit parties are included in governing power.