📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Politics
TVK Says Chennai School Toppers Meet Was Not Political, Defends Against Court Criticism
✍️ NDTV
🗓 05 Nov 2026, 06:53 AM
👁 5
Chief Minister Vijay clarified that his recent gathering with top students in Chennai was purely academic, rejecting the Madras High Court's remarks on using children in political campaigns.
Chief Minister Vijay addressed media on Thursday, stating that his meeting with high‑scoring school students in Chennai was organized solely to encourage academic excellence and had no political motive. The gathering, held at a prominent Chennai school, featured discussions on study habits and future career options.
His comments come after the Madras High Court recently described the use of children in TVK's political rallies as "in bad taste" and called for stricter scrutiny of such practices. The court's observations had sparked renewed debate over the involvement of minors in election‑related activities.
Vijay emphasized that the event was part of a broader effort to motivate young achievers and that no party symbols or campaign messages were displayed. He urged the public and the judiciary to differentiate between genuine educational outreach and partisan mobilisation.
Legal experts noted that while the court's remarks do not constitute a formal injunction, they signal heightened vigilance over political parties' engagement with minors. The chief minister's clarification seeks to pre‑empt any further legal challenges.
The meeting concluded with certificates being presented to the students, and Vijay pledged continued support for educational initiatives across Tamil Nadu.
His comments come after the Madras High Court recently described the use of children in TVK's political rallies as "in bad taste" and called for stricter scrutiny of such practices. The court's observations had sparked renewed debate over the involvement of minors in election‑related activities.
Vijay emphasized that the event was part of a broader effort to motivate young achievers and that no party symbols or campaign messages were displayed. He urged the public and the judiciary to differentiate between genuine educational outreach and partisan mobilisation.
Legal experts noted that while the court's remarks do not constitute a formal injunction, they signal heightened vigilance over political parties' engagement with minors. The chief minister's clarification seeks to pre‑empt any further legal challenges.
The meeting concluded with certificates being presented to the students, and Vijay pledged continued support for educational initiatives across Tamil Nadu.