Tamil Nadu assembly polls 2026: Lottery Martins says Udhayanidhi’s remarks on his mother are immature

Chennai: LJK founder Jose Charles Martin on Monday dismissed remarks by deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin about his mother Leema Rose, saying the comments reflected a lack of maturity.Udhayanidhi, while campaigning in Lalgudi for a DMK candidate, said Martin's family's multiple entries into politics were a secret bid to gain power and bring back lottery in Tamil Nadu. "Bringing back the lottery business in Tamil Nadu is entirely for state govt to decide. Udhayanidhi lacks maturity and treats politics as if it were a game," he said, adding that his mother has long been associated with Rotary and is among its top donors. He said her political ambition to serve people has been misrepresented by Udhayanidhi.Asked whether he would campaign for his mother, he said he would soon. Martin also said that there are no plans to work beyond Lalgudi constituency in TN, as his priority focus has been "transforming Puducherry into Singapore".