Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan on Wednesday said that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s comments in the State Assembly during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address, in which he appeared to mock the electoral loss of former Chief Minister M.K Stalin in the Kolathur constituency, were not “befitting the dignity associated with the office of the Chief Minister”. He added that such remarks should be avoided even on party platforms.

He further said that CM Vijay should reconsider implementing the “one-gram gold ring” scheme for babies born in government hospitals, and argued that the money budgeted for the scheme should be used to improve the maternity wards in government hospitals.

In a statement, Mr. Thirumavalavan said, “On behalf of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, we respectfully request the Hon’ble Chief Minister to preserve and uphold, in the future, both the traditions of the Legislative Assembly and the lofty dignity attached to the great office of the Chief Minister.”

Mr. Thirumavalavan also urged the TVK government reconsider the scheme through which one gram gold ring, one of the election promises of the party, would be given to babies born in government hospitals at a cost of ₹755 crore.

“At present, 56 percent of births in Tamil Nadu take place in government hospitals, while the remaining 44 percent occur in private hospitals. Even for a normal delivery, private hospitals charge between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh. For deliveries conducted through Caesarean surgery, fees can go up to ₹2.5 lakh. Despite these high costs, even poor and economically disadvantaged families choose private hospitals because of concerns regarding the safety and well-being of both mother and child,” he said.

Instead of spending ₹755 crore on providing gold rings, Mr. Thirumavalavan said, “The Government could use that amount to establish maternity wards in every government hospital with facilities comparable to those available in private hospitals, while also appointing the required medical personnel, which would benefit all sections of society.”

Mr. Thirumavalavan added that TVK should also “immediately abandon” the move to “hand over sanitation work in all municipal corporations across the state to private contractors on a contractual basis” as it would be detrimental to the welfare of sanitation workers who carry out these duties while risking their lives.