Expressing shock over an incident in Villupuram district, in which village panchayat president was repeatedly being prevented from discharging her duties, BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) sought the attention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu into the issue.

Referring to a media report on 50-year-old Malarvizhi, the village panchayat president of Kodunkal in Villupuram district, Ms. Srinivasan, in a social media post, said it was a testimony that those from the Scheduled Castes and women, while coming to power, were continuously being subjected to oppression.

“This news that she has been denied the chair of the village panchayat president and prevented from hoisting the national flag reflects that status of social justice,” Ms. Srinivasan said. According to the media report, the panchayat president attempted to end her life in the Villupuram Collector office premises on August 31.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)