Senior DMK leaders signalled a possible return of party president and former CM MK Stalin to the House through the upcoming by-elections, after Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s pointed remark, “Where is your
father?”, in the Tamil Nadu Assembly triggered renewed political debate, with the issue gaining fresh political momentum within the state.
The development has gained significance as Stalin, who led the DMK in the 2026 Assembly elections, lost his Kolathur seat to the TVK and has since remained outside the Assembly. His son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, currently serves as Leader of the Opposition.
At a public meeting, senior DMK leader and MLA KN Nehru hinted that Stalin’s return to the Assembly could happen soon, NDTV reported.
“He asked our leader, where is your father? He would come. Very soon, he would come in. That’s all we can say now. He would return and take responsibility again. That’s for sure. Till yesterday, all our cadres were quiet. But after he spoke, cadres across Tamil Nadu want this,” Nehru said.
His remarks are being interpreted as one of the clearest signals yet that a section within the DMK is pushing for Stalin to contest an upcoming Assembly by-election.
The controversy began after Vijay, in an Assembly speech, narrated a story that included the line, “Where is your father?”, which was widely viewed as a dig at Udhayanidhi Stalin and the absence of his father from the House.
The comment also drew criticism from allies, including VCK chief Thirumavalavan, who said it did not reflect the dignity of the Chief Minister’s office and urged that personal references be avoided in the House.
The exchange escalated further after Udhayanidhi Stalin responded on X with a post referencing a wife searching for her husband at the Chengalpattu court, a remark widely seen as an indirect reference to reports concerning Vijay’s wife Sangeetha’s divorce plea. That post too faced criticism for bringing personal matters into political discourse.
The issue has emerged amid several vacancies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, with six constituencies due for by-elections. The Tiruchy East seat fell vacant after Vijay resigned while retaining Perambur, one of the two constituencies he won. Separately, five AIADMK MLAs resigned, four of whom later joined the TVK.
The upcoming by-elections are expected to serve as a key early electoral test after the Assembly elections. For the DMK, they may also open a route for bringing their top leader back into the legislature.
However, there has been no official confirmation from MK Stalin on whether he intends to contest, even as internal voices within the DMK appear to be increasingly calling for his return.
