Chennai:

Tamil actor Vijay took on the state’s ruling DMK in his first political speech at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally, saying one family is looting the state through underhand dealing. The mega meet of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam earlier today, marked his formal launch into politics.

“They do underground dealing and allege Facism, to cheat minorities… In the name of Dravidian model you are cheating people,” he said. 

He also took a tacit dig at the BJP. “Hate politics is our enemy… divisive politics and hatred is our enemy… i will maintain political decorum and political decency… this crowd is not for cash but for a cause… There is no looking back,” he added.

“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.

The entry of the 50-year-old star comes amid a political vacuum in the bipolar state. The Opposition AIADMK is yet to recover from the death of party icon and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. 

The actor made his aim clear.

“I am not here as extra luggage, I want to be a primary force in Tamil Nadu…,” added Vijay, who had just confessed that he once did not think it necessary to enter politics. “Earlier I thought why politics. But isn’t that selfish to think about myself?” he had said.  

The superstar also announced that his party would contest all 234 seats in the 2026 assembly elections in the state. He also made it clear that he was not averse to power sharing. 

His party, he said, would adopt Dravidian icon Periyar’s policy on social justice and women’s empowerment. 

But there was a rider – “We will not take Periyar’s ‘No god’ stand, we are against nobody’s faith”.  The other icons of his party, he said, were Kamaraj, NR Ambedkar, freedom fighter Velu Nachiar and revolutionary Anjalai Ammal women icons.
 

The TVK party leader will address an expected crowd of 1 lakh at the venue at V.Salai in the town.
| Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar

Vikravandi town in Villupuram is all decked up to play host to the first public rally of actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), eight months after he floated the party.

The TVK party, which is yet to test the electoral waters and is gearing up for the 2026 Assembly elections, has already generated intense interest in political circles.

A massive dais has been erected on an 85-acre site with a seating arrangement for nearly a lakh people.

The whole of the venue wore a festive look with hundreds of huge party flags in red and yellow covering the entire ground.

Huge cutouts of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, B.R. Ambedkar, social reformer Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy, freedom fighter Anjalai Ammal and Chola, Pandya and Chera kings were erected around the venue.

Functionaries of TVK said they left no stone unturned to make the event a big success and a record-breaking one.

By 8.30 a.m., all roads leading to Vikravandi witnessed huge influx of vehicles and vans carrying fans from the across the State to hear actor Vijay announce the policies of his political party.

Mr. Vijay, who arrived in Vikravandi on Saturday (October 26, 2024) night and stayed in a caravan, will address an expected crowd of 1 lakh at the venue at V.Salai in the town.

He will hoist the party flag on a 100-metre high pole through remote control. An 800-metre long ramp has been erected along the dais.

The actor will alone hog the limelight during the massive show of strength planned in true film style. The main entrance to the venue resembling Fort St. George has been erected.

He is also expected to be the lone star speaker at the three-hour meeting, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Security arrangements

Massive security arrangements have been made for the meeting, termed as one of the biggest political shows in recent months.

Over 6,000 policemen drawn from Villupuram and various other districts are being deployed at the venue. The security arrangements are being supervised by Inspector General of Police (North Zone) Asra Garg.

As many as 22 ambulances and 18 medical teams have also been stationed for any health exigency at the venue.