DMK president M.K. Stalin on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) alleged that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government had backstabbed nurses after promising to fulfil their demands.

In a social media message, he condemned the arrest of nurses (on Monday [October 5] night), who had been fighting for job security, equal pay, and permanent employment.

“How could the government bring itself to arrest nurses when it is not able to hold talks with them? The legal adviser of the nurses has alleged they were arrested after being invited for talks on the pretext of holding discussions,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said before coming to power, the TVK had extended support to the protesters, but had taken police action against them after becoming the ruling party.

“What do the TVK Ministers say about this incident when they have been defending Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, a bundle of contradictions? The nurses continued their protests with the help of the lights on their mobile phones after the power was cut. They were arrested overnight. Is this the change the TVK is talking about?” he asked.

Mr. Stalin also recalled the warning by the woman police officer, who was gesticulating with her fingers and saying, “Your life is important.” “Will the Chief Minister, who holds the police portfolio, respond to it? Or will he make reels of the woman police officer’s action and advertise it as an achievement?” he asked.

EPS condemns police action

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the “police brutality” unleashed by the TVK government against nurses, who were staging a peaceful protest, “is the height of cruelty.”

“The police force under the Chief Minister has committed this fascist atrocity against nurses who are engaged in the vital duty of saving lives. How will this ‘Reels Chief Minister’ justify it?” he asked in a social media post.

“Before coming to power, do you remember what your party functionaries – and those who are Ministers today – said while standing in front of these very same nurses? Is this the “change” you promised: saying one thing before coming to power and doing the exact opposite after assuming office?” he further asked.

He urged the government to immediately release all the arrested nurses and ensure that no cases are filed against them.

‘Arbitrary action’

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran also criticised the State government for what he called “arbitrary action” against the agitating nurses.

In a post on social media, Mr. Dhinakaran recalled how the ruling party, while not in power, had supported the nurses’ demands. He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the nurses had rendered their services, even unmindful of their lives, and that the government should meet their demands on job security and equal pay for equal work.