Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) floor leader Sowmiya Anbumani and CPI(M) member Latha on Thursday (August 24, 2026) urged Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar to discontinue the use of the term kanni pechu to refer to the “maiden” speech of MLAs in the House, arguing that the gendered term perpetuated patriarchal notions.

Ms. Sowmiya said it could instead be called arimuga urai (introductory speech) or mudhal urai (first speech).

The Speaker asked School Education Minister Rajmohan to express his views, and he said the suggestions made by Ms. Sowmiya and Ms. Latha could be considered. “Even in the past, BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan had raised the issue, and the then Speaker had agreed to consider it,” he said.

The Speaker also said Question Hour would resume in the Assembly from Thursday (August 27).