Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday questioned if Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami would take exception to weddings being facilitated by the Department of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE).Presiding over weddings of 32 couples at a function, he recalled Mr. Palaniswami’s objections to temple funds being used for setting up colleges. He pointed out the case was taken [by litigant] till the Supreme Court but the judgment was in favour of the HR&CE Department.“My doubt now is if he would take offence at how many weddings are being organised by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department. He may even take exception to why funds from HR&CE Department are used for organising weddings. That is the status of the opposition parties now,” Mr. Udhayanidhi said.Listing out the achievements of the “Dravidian model” of governance and the contributions of the Dravidian movement and the DMK, late leaders ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy, C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi, Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin said they led to several reforms in Tamil Nadu.“Some 50, 60 years ago, you would have noticed only the caste names of grandparents in their wedding invitations. But, now, caste names are not there, but the educational qualifications of the couple,” Mr. Udhayanidhi said.Published - September 15, 2025 05:00 am IST