Chennai, November 10: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay has summoned all TVK legislators to Chennai for an emergency consultative meeting on November 11, amid growing controversies over the conduct of some MLAs. News agency ANI reported that all TVK MLAs have been summoned in connection with the Deputy Speaker assault issue and the prevailing situation in Kallakurichi district, and that the meeting at the party headquarters in Panaiyur will be led by Vijay and Minister N. Anand.

Source: ANI

The summons is a new development following the allegation reported a day earlier, on November 9, that Deputy Speaker Ravi Shankar had assaulted a man who approached him over civic problems. Party sources cited by IANS said the meeting would focus on discipline among elected representatives and on ensuring their conduct does not undermine the credibility of the ruling party, with senior functionaries also expected to attend.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

The man at the centre of that allegation, Karthik Kumar, a resident of Kannabiran Colony in Thuraiyur, Tiruchirappalli district, said he had repeatedly approached the municipal administration over a lack of basic amenities in his locality, but no action was taken. According to Kumar, on Diwali evening he was in the Mannachanallur area when he saw the Deputy Speaker's car parked there and approached Ravi Shankar to raise his complaints. Kumar alleged that Ravi Shankar got out of the car, verbally abused him using obscene language, assaulted him repeatedly, kicked him and chased him away. He was later admitted to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchirappalli for further treatment, ANI reported. The allegations have not been established and remain under scrutiny.

The episode took another turn through competing videos. Chennai Vision, reporting the account carried by The New Indian Express, said Kumar first appeared in a video alongside the Deputy Speaker in which he described the incident as exaggerated and a minor altercation involving pushing and shoving in a crowded place. Kumar later released another video alleging that he had been threatened with harm to his family unless he recorded that clarification, and that a police officer had intimidated him and compelled him to film the statement at the MLA's residence. ANI also reported that the victim alleged he was threatened and forced to record a video denying the assault.

A second controversy involves Kallakurichi. DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi alleged that Kallakurichi MLA Arul Vignesh had sent inappropriate messages to the district collector and harassed her, forcing her to arrange personal security, according to the TNIE account reported by Chennai Vision. ANI reported that the November 11 meeting was also called in connection with the prevailing situation in Kallakurichi district. These are allegations made by a political opponent and have not been independently established.

A senior TVK minister told TNIE that an internal committee headed by party general secretary and minister N. Anand would investigate the allegations against both legislators before the leadership decides on disciplinary measures. IANS separately reported that the party is conducting an internal inquiry, that its findings and any disciplinary action have not been officially announced, and that the leadership is expected to issue stern warnings and strict guidelines to MLAs on public behaviour, constituency responsibilities and interactions with officials.

From the opposition, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan criticised the alleged assault on Kumar, saying the man had likely raised a local issue that should have been addressed by the minister or the area's MLA, ANI reported.

IANS reported that a second item expected at the meeting is the disqualification proceedings against four legislators who defected from the AIADMK to the ruling TVK, after the Assembly Speaker recently issued notices in connection with their disqualification; the meeting is expected to examine legal options and formulate a political response. The meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. on November 11 at Panaiyur, and any disciplinary decisions are awaited.