Chennai:
The new government of Tamil Nadu led by Vijay and the Opposition DMK locked horns shortly after the oath ceremony over the song played at the programme. With Vande Mataram playing before Jana Gana Mana and the Tamil state song, the DMK has claimed that the state should be respected and state song should have been played first. The Tamil anthem was pushed to the third place.
The ruling TVK (Tamilaga Vettru Kazhagam) has said the music was the Governor’s call.
The DMK refused to relent, saying it only shows that the TVK is bent towards the BJP
The practice here is to play the Tamil anthem first, the national anthem at the end,” said DMK’s TKS Elangovan. “This time the Governor wants Vande Mataram to be sung first and then the Tamil anthem… that is not the practice. This shows that Vijay going towards the BJP. We will take this to the people,” he added.
Allies CPM, CPI and the VCK, as well as MDMK have also urged the TVK to stick to the convention of singing the Tamil anthem first.