Congress MP Karti Chidambaram criticised TVK MLA R Pallavi for bringing her infant to public events. On October 11, 2026, he called the act "political showmanship and attention-seeking." Pallavi previously took her baby to the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Chidambaram said he supports family-friendly policies but feels this is not practical.
Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram has questioned TVK MLA R Pallavi's decision to bring her infant to public gatherings, accusing the first-time legislator of using her child for political visibility. The Congress leader's remarks followed Pallavi's appearance with her baby at an event held at IIT Madras in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to X, Chidambaram said he was in favour of policies that help parents balance work and childcare, including workplace creches and maternity and paternity leave. However, he drew a distinction between supporting such measures and bringing an infant to public events repeatedly, calling the latter "political showmanship and attention-seeking". While I fully support family-friendly policies such as workplace creches, maternity leave, and paternity leave, repeatedly taking an infant to public events appears more like political showmanship and attention-seeking than practical necessity. I hope @TVKVijayHQ will advise her suitably on this. -- Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) October 11, 2026 This is not the first time, R Pallavi has made an appearance at a political event with her infant. In the past too, she was spotted with her baby. She has been spotted carrying her baby to Tamil Nadu Assembly during the session. Reportedly, she left the child with a caregiver before entering the main chamber. MLA Pallavi in PM event at IIT https://t.co/efXbtP7tQ7 -- Nandini Gopalakrishnan (@Nandhini_Twits) October 11, 2026 On Sunday, Pallavi arrived at an event as PM Narendra Modi Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre on the IIT-Madras campus. He was briefed on the functions and research of the institute by experts. During his visit to the state, PM Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, built at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore. Following the inauguration, PM Modi took a ride on the Chennai Metro from Porur Bypass Station to Poonamallee Bypass Station and back. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was also present. Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of and inaugurate key National Highway projects worth around Rs 3,700 crore. These projects will strengthen road connectivity, reduce travel time, ease traffic congestion and support economic growth in the State.