The AIADMK has appealed to Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin to wear in accordance with the dress code prescribed by a Tamil Nadu government order.
AIADMK legal cell secretary and former Tamil Nadu MLA S. Imbadurai observed on Monday that the governmental dress code, applicable on government employees, must apply to the Deputy Chief Minister.
G.O. said that male staffers would be required to have a traditional shirt with trousers or dhoti which comes with a Tamil culture while others being the traditional India clothing as prescribed by their dress codes.
Female will wear either saree or salwar suits.
In this sense, Imbadurai criticised Udhayanidhi Stalin for being on t-shirt with flags of the DMK. On both sides of DMK symbol and the sunrise he got them printed; in respect of which it has brought into official and political level.
There are widespread condemnations of Tamil Nadu Opposition parties regarding Deputy Chief Minister's casual attires.
A case is also filed in Madras High Court stating that it is unconstitutional for Udhayanidhi Stalin's official events attires being in casual.
Advocate M. Sathyakumar argued: "Displaying the DMK party symbol at government functions violates Constitutional provisions and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. I assert that these actions are unconstitutional and illegal, calling for adherence to the dress code and separation between political affiliations and government duties.".
He further stated that since Udhayanidhi is a public servant, he should not be permitted to wear party symbols in the government meetings or while discharging his official duties because it would indirectly solicit votes, which is legally inappropriate.
He further stated that wearing casual dresses, such as T-shirt, jeans, and informal footwear, at official events violates the formal dress code prescribed by the government.
Udhayanidhi Stalin is reportedly a likely successor to Chief Minister of DMK, succeeding his father M. K. Stalin. Following an appointment as a minister, he was appointed as Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister and was on the path to campaigning for DMK into the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, visiting and traveling across the state, acting as the party lead campaigner.
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