Politics

Vanni Arasu, Tamil Nadu minister in trouble for insulting Governor

The controversy has also reignited tensions over the role of Governors in Tamil Nadu, with another minister attacking the Governor for engaging with district officials and youth during his Madurai visit

Kumar Chellappan

July 6, 2026

The controversy has also reignited tensions over the role of Governors in Tamil Nadu, with another minister attacking the Governor for engaging with district officials and youth during his Madurai visit

Vanni Arasu’s ‘Tamil Nadu sovereignty’ remark triggers political storm

Vanni Arasu, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Social Justice and a member of the Dalit outfit VCK, is in major trouble. In his overenthusiasm to impress Joseph Vijay, the first Christian Chief Minister of the state, Arasu declared on Monday that he was even willing to resign as minister for the sovereignty of Tamil Nadu. This has landed him in hot water, as the declaration was against the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, according to the BJP.

“Arasu’s declaration is an illegal and anti-national act, as the Constitution of India clearly states that India alone is a sovereign nation,” said Narayanan Thirupathy, chief spokesperson of the Tamil Nadu BJP. Thirupathy pointed out in a statement released to the media that all ministers, when they assume office, take an oath administered by the Governor that they would preserve the sovereignty and integrity of India. “States have been created only for administrative convenience. The Constitution does not guarantee any sovereignty to the states,” said Thirupathy.

He said that Arasu’s reference to the sovereignty of Tamil Nadu is an act of separatism and is akin to challenging the sovereignty of the nation. “This is a serious legal offence, and the Chief Minister should dismiss him from the Council of Ministers.” Thirupathy has written to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, urging him to take strong action against Arasu for the statement, which has the potential to undermine and sabotage the sovereignty of India and pave the way for separatism.

On July 3, CTR Nirmal Kumar, another minister in Joseph Vijay’s Council of Ministers, lambasted the Governor for visiting Madurai and holding a meeting with senior government officials in the district. The Governor, who was shocked at the pathetic state of the Vaigai River, asked the youth of the district to take up the restoration and cleaning of the river as a patriotic mission.

Nirmal Kumar, a political turncoat from the BJP who switched over to Joseph Vijay’s camp just before the polls, alleged that the Governor had violated the dignity of his office by interfering in the affairs of the state and was trying to undermine a democratically elected government. He also claimed that the Governor had no authority to interact with senior officials and inspire the youth by offering them the help of Lok Bhavan in the execution of tasks beneficial to the people. Interestingly, the two immediate former Governors, Banwarilal Purohit (2017–2021) and R. N. Ravi (2021–2026), were insulted by the then DMK government on each and every occasion. Political commentators and veteran bureaucrats are of the view that the DMK’s ire towards them was mainly because of the inferiority complex of party supremo M. K. Stalin, as he was incapable of standing up to these scholarly individuals and their proactive approaches.

Arasu was heard asking the media on Monday morning that since the goat does not have a beard, why should the state have a Governor.

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