Social welfare minister and AIADMK leader B Valarmathi replied to a notice issued by the Election Commission for making defamatory remarks against DMK leaders M Karunanidhi and M K Stalin at an election meeting in Salem last month.

Salem police registered an FIR against the minister for her defamatory remarks against the DMK leaders at an election meeting on March 17. 

A local DMK functionary had handed over a CD of the minister's speech to the local flying squad officials, alleging that the minister had made derogatory remarks against senior DMK leaders, in violation of the model code of conduct.

This is not the first time Valarmathi has earned the ire of the DMK. In 2013, legislators walked out of the Assembly after a shouting match with the ruling party after her remarks on the conference held by the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) in New Delhi.

DMK’s MLA T R B Rajaa walked up to the Speaker’s chair and demanded the removal of the comment from records. As ministers appealed to the Speaker to take action against Rajaa for breach of decorum, the DMK staged a walkout.