Last Updated:
A routine discussion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly turned unexpectedly humorous when a proposal on water bottles sparked witty exchanges, laughter and applause across party lines
A simple request for water bottles turned into one of the funniest moments in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, with CM Vijay joining the laughter.
Chennai News: A light-hearted exchange over water bottles brought rare laughter to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, with Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay, ministers, opposition members and the Speaker all joining in as a seemingly simple suggestion led to a series of jokes.
The moment unfolded when DMDK leader and Vriddhachalam MLA Premalatha Vijayakanth raised the issue of how drinking water is served to legislators during Assembly proceedings.
MLA Suggests Change In Water Service System
Premalatha proposed that the long-standing practice of Assembly staff serving water in steel glasses be reconsidered. She suggested that reusable glass bottles or high-quality PET bottles be placed on every MLA’s desk so members would not have to repeatedly call staff whenever they needed water.
Making the request on Chief Minister Vijay’s birthday, she argued that the move would save time and reduce the need for Assembly staff to constantly bend down and serve water to legislators.
According to Premalatha, keeping bottles readily available at members’ desks would be more convenient for both MLAs and Assembly employees.
OPS’s Humorous Remark Sends House Into Laughter
The discussion took an amusing turn when former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam objected to the proposal in a joking manner. He remarked that placing glass bottles on desks might not be a good idea because angry legislators could end up throwing them at one another during heated exchanges.
The comment immediately triggered laughter across the House. Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar was seen laughing, while Chief Minister S Joseph Vijay, Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and several ministers also joined in the amusement.
VIDEO | Chennai: DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth demands that water be served to members in glass bottles.Former three-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam interrupts, saying, “People will throw them at each other when they get angry,” leaving the House roaring… pic.twitter.com/30Nqx8oLHi
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 22, 2026
Premalatha Responds, Thennarasu Adds Another Joke
Premalatha quickly responded by saying that if that logic were applied, even a steel glass could potentially be thrown. Before the exchange could continue further, the Speaker moved proceedings ahead and invited former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu to speak.
Known for his wit, Thennarasu added another humorous remark, joking that perhaps Panneerselvam’s concern stemmed from his own past experiences. His comment prompted another round of laughter and applause from members.
MLA Opposes Disposable Plastic Bottles
While making her proposal, Premalatha clarified that she was not advocating the use of disposable plastic bottles. Instead, she suggested keeping durable and reusable PET bottles on members’ desks.
Despite the discussion, neither the Speaker nor the Chief Minister offered any formal response to the proposal. As a result, the existing arrangement of Assembly staff serving water in steel glasses remains unchanged.
Premalatha Also Raises Concern Over Governor’s Pronunciation
Apart from the water bottle issue, Premalatha also objected to the pronunciation of Tamil words and the names of Tamil leaders by Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar during his Assembly address.
Responding to her criticism, Speaker JCD Prabhakar defended the Governor and urged members to appreciate his efforts. “We should appreciate his attempt,” the Speaker said.
Although no decision emerged from either discussion, the water bottle debate stood out as one of the Assembly’s most memorable moments of the day, briefly replacing political sparring with laughter across party lines.
Read More
