Women MLAs in Tamil Nadu reiterate need to dispense with usage of ‘maiden’ speech
Women MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly have requested the Speaker to stop using the term 'kanni pechu' to describe a member's maiden speech. They argue the term is gendered and rooted in patriarchal norms, suggesting neutral alternatives like 'introductory speech' instead.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing movement in legislative bodies to modernize language and remove gender-biased terminology from official parliamentary records.
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).
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