Chennai: Tamil Nadu Assembly Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin sparked a political controversy on Monday after making remarks widely interpreted as an offensive allusion to actor Trisha while addressing a protest over the Cauvery water dispute.

Speaking at a demonstration, Udhayanidhi criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, alleging that Tamil Nadu had not received "a single drop" of Cauvery water while the state government remained unconcerned.

The rally took a controversial turn when members of the crowd began chanting "Trisha, Trisha". Pausing his speech, Udhayanidhi responded with what critics described as a double entendre, triggering sharp criticism from opposition leaders and social media users.

Reacting to the remarks, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy described them as "disgusting, obscene, vulgar and shameful".

"Even a rogue or a thief who has a mother, wife or daughter would not speak so vulgarly. No mother, wife or daughter would forgive those who speak like that," Thirupathy wrote in a post on X.

ALSO READ | Cauvery river dispute: Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court to secure water share

He also demanded action against the DMK leader, saying Udhayanidhi should be arrested over the remarks.

"Arresting and imprisoning Udhayanidhi Stalin for this low-grade speech would bring more credit to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister than arresting Markandeyan (DMK MLA). Let us see whether the courts punish this speech or grant bail," he said.

ALSO READ | ‘Release water as ordered’: CWMA tells Karnataka in Cauvery row

The incident also drew criticism from several social media users, with many accusing the DMK leader of making an inappropriate and sexist remark.

Neither Udhayanidhi Stalin nor the DMK had issued a response to the criticism at the time of writing.

(PTI)