Stalin, addressing party supporters, argued that byelections are normally triggered by the death of elected members, but this time “democracy has died and caused the byelection”, accusing the ruling party of deliberately creating the vacancy.
He pointed out that the resignations of the two legislators were announced before the indelible ink on voters’ fingers had even dried, suggesting an “arrogance” on the part of the TVK government for forcing the same members to contest again in the same constituencies.
Labeling the TVK administration a “reels government”, Stalin said it had “denigrated the dignity of the Assembly”, which recently celebrated its centenary, and urged DMK workers to explain the situation to voters alongside the government’s failures.
Stalin also rebuked chief minister C. Joseph Vijay for sidestepping questions raised by DMK floor leader Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Assembly, noting that Vijay tried to shift attention to Stalin’s past arrest under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and to the Sarkaria Commission.
In response, Stalin dismissed the need to prove his MISA arrest, citing the memoir of late DMK leader Chittibabu and the Justice Ismail Commission report on Emergency‑era excesses as evidence of his sacrifice and the party’s credibility.
He further criticized Vijay’s recent foreign trips, asking why the chief minister signed a memorandum of understanding with an Indian company in the United Kingdom without the presence of the Industries Minister or Industries Secretary, and suggested the trips were staged for “reels” rather than genuine investment promotion.
The speech concluded with Stalin handing out various awards to party leaders and thanking the voters of his Kolathur constituency for their support.