A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the saffron portrayal of revered Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar at a venue prepared to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The DMK challenged the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to oppose the move, while Vijay's party condemned what it described as an attempt to impose a religious identity on the poet. The BJP defended the imagery, accusing the DMK of opposing Hindu values.