A video of a woman getting out of a car in a short black dress has triggered a political row in Tamil Nadu after she was misidentified as S Keerthana, Minister for Industries and Investment Promotion. Keerthana has clarified that the woman in the video is not her and questioned that "why should it matter" even if it was her. In a long post on social media platform X, Keerthana called misogyny the "oldest weapon" of those who have nothing substantive to contribute.
It all began with several social media users, allegedly DMK supporters, sharing a video of a woman in a short dress and questioning whether she was Industries Minister Keerthana. The criticism followed.
The Sivakasi MLA hit out at the trolling and called out the "fragile, regressive mindset" that led to political hysteria over a woman going about her day. She added that she was not surprised.
Indirectly hitting out at the Opposition, she said, "What else can you expect from followers of a leader with a track record of deeply derogatory remarks against women?"
The youngest MLA in Vijay's cabinet clarified that the woman in the video is not her.
"But even if it were, why should it matter? Why are a woman's clothes, appearance, or joy still treated as matters for public trial?" she asked.
Keerthana said that false narratives about personal lives of leaders and their family members are a resort when the Opposition cannot challenge the government's policies, governance, or track record.
"Misogyny is the oldest weapon of those who have nothing substantive to positively contribute," she said.
She also addressed the woman in the video, who she said had been dragged into the controversy "simply due to a passing resemblance", and apologised to her.
"I'm sorry. You look stunning, and I hope you keep living on your own terms (and loving those highlights!)"
The fact that a video of a woman simply going about her day can spark political hysteria tells you everything about the fragile, regressive mindset behind it. But I'm not surprised! What else can you expect from followers of a leader with a track record of deeply derogatory…
— Virudhai Magal Keerthana (@Keerthana4VNR) August 23, 2026
She spoke about the viral video during a public address and directly targeted the DMK and AIADMK saying, "Each Saturday and Sunday their job is to do false campaign... The DMK and AIADMK are defaming women in all way on the internet. The person in the video is not me."
DMK's IT wing secretary TRB Rajaa has come out in support of Keerthana and said, "nothing justifies misogyny."
"Absolutely disgusted to see some IDs trying to degrade women and their choices, even dragging in people who have absolutely nothing to do with the matter," Rajaa wrote in a post on X.
Rajaa made it clear that his party will never tolerate anything that crosses the line of decency.
"The DMK stands firmly for women's dignity, rights, and freedom. Any act that crosses the line of decency will never ever be tolerated. Whoever it is," he wrote.
