During the swearing-in ceremony of Chandrababu Naidu as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, a tense moment unfolded involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tamil Nadu BJP Leader and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. Shah was observed gesturing sternly and displaying apparent disapproval towards Soundararajan, capturing the attention of other NDA leaders, including the Prime Minister, present on stage.
The video of the incident quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion. In the footage, Shah, seated between Union Health Minister JP Nadda and former President of India Venkaiah Naidu, is seen summoning Soundararajan as she passes by.
Shah, with a pointed finger and contracted brows, appeared to be reprimanding her, speaking animatedly while Soundararajan attempted to respond but was repeatedly interrupted.
Speculation arose that Shah's stern reaction was linked to Soundararajan's recent remarks to a media outlet about the Tamil Nadu BJP. She had suggested that the party's Tamil Nadu unit had inducted antisocial elements, indirectly criticizing the leadership of Tamil Nadu State President K. Annamalai.
This criticism highlighted a growing rift between Soundararajan and Annamalai, both of whom lost in the recent Tamil Nadu elections. Their supporters have since engaged in public disputes, with Soundararajan's supporters blaming Annamalai for the party's poor performance, while Annamalai's supporters argued the party's vote share had actually increased, accusing Soundararajan of airing internal issues publicly.
The exact reason for Shah's reprimand remains unclear, as Soundararajan has not yet commented on the incident. Meanwhile, social media continues to buzz with various interpretations of the viral video, fuelling further debate within the political circles.