Villupuram (Tamil Nadu): Months after announcing his political party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), actor Vijay came to a rousing reception at the party's first public meeting. The actor-turned-politician said the BJP was the ideological opponent of the TVK while the DMK was its political adversary.
“There is a group that has been creating divisions within society. Those who create divisions are our first enemy. Those who claim to uphold Dravidian ideology but are exploiting Tamil Nadu as a family enterprise are our next rivals. The BJP is our ideological opponent while the DMK is our political adversary,” said Vijay, addressing a massive gathering in Villupuram district’s Vikravandi.
He also pledged to follow the legacies of Dravidian icon Periyar, former Chief Minister Kamaraj, B R Ambedkar, Rani Velu Nachiyar, and Anjali Ammal.
He assured his supporters there would be no “adjustment politics or compromise,” adding that Tamil Nadu’s political landscape needs transformative change.
“I have not entered politics for personal gain but out of social commitment. I may be a newcomer in politics but my commitment remains undaunted. Our party’s core enemies are corruption and communalism,” Vijay said.
He also accused the DMK of deceiving the public under the guise of the Dravida model, calling the DMK government anti-people.
The superstar-cum-politician also announced that his party would contest all 234 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, emphasising that TVK’s campaign is a serious bid for victory, with no retreat from electoral politics.
Vijay also hinted at power-sharing, saying, “We will provide a share of power to any political party that supports us,” indirectly referencing DMK alliance partners such as the Congress and Dalit party, VCK, who have previously sought power-sharing in Tamil Nadu.
He assured that TVK would not act as a front for any other political party. After years of anticipation, Vijay officially launched TVK on February 2, 2024, and unveiled the party’s flag and symbol on August 22 at the party headquarters in Chennai.
Vijay’s fan club, the All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (AITVMI), contested 169 seats in the October 2021 local body elections, winning 113 seats—outperforming the parties of fellow celebrities Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and Seeman’s Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK), both of which failed to secure any seats.
This success was a stepping stone for Vijay’s official foray into politics. His entry brings a fresh dynamic to a Tamil political landscape long dominated by Dravidian heavyweights, DMK and AIADMK, while observers are watching closely for Vijay’s next moves.
Vijay is the latest big ticket entrant to the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, with actor Kamal Haasan being the last one to launch his Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) about six years ago. Prior to that, the late Vijayakanth had launched his Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam way back in 2005 and tasted electoral success, although Hassan has not been in a similar league.
While superstar Rajinikanth had announced taking the political plunge a few years ago, he later backtracked citing health reasons.
The iconic M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, is seen as the trendsetter of cinema-to-politics graduation, when he founded the AIADMK in 1972 after being expelled from the DMK by its then chief M Karunanidhi. MGR later went on to rule the state from 1977-87 till his death. His protege, yesteryear actor, the late J Jayalalithaa also is also a former CM.
Karunanidhi was also involved in cinema, as a screenplay and dialogue writer. Other actors, including MGR's contemporary, late thespian Sivaji Ganesan and K Bhagyaraj too dabbled in politics briefly with their own respective parties and outfits.