TVK complains to ECI against MK Stalin for body-shaming comment on P Sathyabama

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The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking action against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by making derogatory remarks about the physical appearance of the party's Dharapuram by-poll candidate, P Sathyabama.

Addressing a representation to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer on October 3, Minister and the party's election campaign management general secretary Aadhav Arjuna has sought the cancellation of Stalin's star campaigner status and urged the ECI to direct the District Returning Officer to register a First Information Report (FIR) against him under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women.

Aadhav also sought restrictions on Stalin's election campaign, including preventing him from addressing public rallies and giving interviews for a specified period.

The complaint was filed following Stalin's campaign speech in Dharapuram on Friday,  October 2, in which he referred to Sathyabama as 'Petti Bama' (Suitcase Bama) and 'Palti Bama' (Somersault Bama), before remarking on her physical appearance.

Addressing a public meeting in the constituency, Stalin asked the gathering what they called the TVK candidate. "You, the people, what do you call her now? Petti Bama. There's another one too, Palti Bama. I don't know how she managed to somersault with that kind of appearance," he said.

The term 'Petti Bama' has been used by the DMK during its campaign to allege that Sathyabama switched parties after being offered money. Sathyabama has denied the allegation.

The complaint said that such remarks were intended to discourage women from participating in public life. The party also alleged that similar remarks against women had become a recurring practice within the DMK, particularly by Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin.

In a statement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay also accused the DMK of organising a campaign meeting that was defamatory and indecent in nature. "As a son, elder brother and younger brother of the women of Tamil Nadu, I strongly condemn the evil force, the DMK, for repeatedly speaking obscenely about women," Vijay said.

Sathyabama had won the Dharapuram Assembly constituency as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate in the recent Assembly election. She subsequently resigned from the seat and joined the TVK, which has fielded her in the bypoll.

The defections have triggered allegations of horse-trading against the ruling TVK, with the DMK and the AIADMK accusing the party of making a split in the opposition to increase its legislative strength. 

Six sitting AIADMK MLAs, including former ministers, resigned from their constituencies and subsequently joined the TVK.

Of the vacancies that arose following these resignations, by-polls are to be held in Dharapuram and Madhuranthagam on October 6.

The TVK has fielded the same former AIADMK legislators who had won these constituencies in the Assembly election.