Senior DMK leader Dindigul Leoni has sparked a political row saying former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's slippers are effectively ruling the state, drawing a parallel with the Ramayana to suggest that the welfare schemes launched by the previous government continue to influence people's lives under Chief Minister Joseph Vijay's TVK government.Reacting to the remarks, state Health Minister KG Arunraj hit back at the DMK, saying the comments were in line with the party's standards and that neither the government nor the public was surprised by them.Speaking at an event, Leoni invoked the Ramayana episode in which Lord Rama's sandals symbolically ruled Ayodhya during his exile. He said Stalin's welfare initiatives had ensured that people continued to remember him even after he left office."Just as Lord Rama's sandals once ruled Ayodhya, your slippers are ruling this state," Leoni said.

Explaining his remark, the DMK leader cited several schemes and initiatives, including the Magalir Urimai scheme, the morning meal scheme, the Arivulagam inauguration and the metro rail scheme. He said people continued to benefit from these initiatives and remembered Stalin because of them."Be it the Magalir Urimai scheme, the morning meal scheme, the Arivulagam inauguration or the metro rail scheme, people only remember you (Stalin)," he said, adding that Stalin's slippers were ruling Tamil Nadu.

Leoni also referred to Bharata, the younger brother of Lord Rama in the Ramayana, who is associated with ruling Ayodhya using Rama's sandals during the latter's absence."Do not think that Bharata is the one ruling," the DMK leader said, before suggesting that the current political arrangement would not last long.He said the rule would not continue for 14 years, as in the Ramayana and suggested that it might last only 14 weeks."This will not continue for 14 years. It may last just 14 weeks," Leoni said.HEALTH MINISTER ARUNRAJ SLAMS LEONIReacting to Leoni's remarks about Chief Minister Vijay, Tamil Nadu Health Minister KG Arunraj said the comments did not come as a surprise to him or the public."We are not at all surprised and people are also not surprised.

This is expected from DMK's leaders to their Leader of Opposition, MLAs and speakers. Nothing shocking or surprising to us.

People are clearly watching it. They know the standards of DMK, the entire party," Arunraj said in Chennai.The minister criticised the DMK leadership's remarks, saying that people were observing the party's conduct.

His reaction came after Leoni's comments comparing the TVK government's tenure to the episode in the Ramayana in which Rama's sandals symbolically ruled Ayodhya during his absence.- Ends