Tamil Nadu Human Resources Management Minister D. Sarathkumar (TVK) is facing calls for his dismissal after a video showed him handling a white powder [1].

The controversy has sparked widespread political unrest in Chennai, highlighting the volatile tension between the ruling administration and opposition parties over allegations of illicit substance use.

The footage was recorded at an Indian Premier League match venue [2]. In the video, the minister is seen with a white powder, which has led to conflicting accounts regarding its nature. Sarathkumar said the substance was medicine for his daughter [1].

However, the DMK student wing has rejected this explanation, saying the video is linked to drug consumption [2]. The opposition party is demanding legal action, and the immediate removal of the minister from his post [2].

Protests erupted in Chennai on Monday as DMK workers sought action against the minister [3]. The demonstrations led to a confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in the detention of more than 50 protesters [3].

This incident follows a pattern of heightened scrutiny regarding public officials' conduct during high-profile sporting events. The DMK continues to press for a formal investigation into the substance seen in the recording to determine if it was a controlled drug or medical treatment [2].

Sarathkumar has not issued further statements regarding the specific type of medication involved, but the political pressure for his resignation continues to mount as the video circulates on social media platforms [1].

“The video is linked to drug consumption.”

This conflict underscores the use of viral media as a political tool in Tamil Nadu to challenge the moral authority of government ministers. The escalation from a social media clip to the mass detention of more than 50 people indicates that the opposition is leveraging public health and anti-drug sentiment to destabilize the TVK's standing in the state administration.