With Vijay preparing to go solo Tamil Nadu in for four-cornered contest in assembly polls

Even as the BJP national leadership is reportedly continuing its efforts to rope in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor Vijay into the NDA fold, the latter appears to be preparing the party to face the Tamil Nadu assembly elections on its own by positioning himself as the alternative to the ruling DMK and Chief Minister M K Stalin.

The TVK going it alone will result in a four-cornered contest practically putting an end to the duopoly of the DMK and the AIADMK. Apart from the DMK-led front and the principal opposition AIADMK-led NDA, the TVK, the ultra-Tamil nationalist Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) of film maker Seeman is ploughing a lonely furrow, having announced candidates for all the 234 seats. While the TVK makes its debut in this election, the NTK, having secured more than 8 percent votes in the last Lok Sabha election, is a recognised state party.

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While Vijay’s appearance before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi for the third time in connection with the Karur stampede case has fuelled speculation about the BJP exerting pressure on the actor to fall in line and enter the NDA, he has remained tight-lipped. And it had been left to the TVK second line leaders like KA Sengottaiyan and CTR Nirmal Kumar to refute media reports of talks with the BJP.

On his return from Delhi, Vijay had a brainstorming session with TVK district secretaries and senior functionaries where he had reportedly told them that the party would fight the election on its own and emerge victorious. With the party having finalised candidates for 60 seats, he had also asked them to carry out their fieldwork at the grass roots. The actor-turned politician is planning to complete the process of interviewing aspirants for the remaining 174 seats so that the party’s manifesto and candidates list could be released at the earliest.

Clarifying the party’s position, TVK senior leader K A Sengottaiyan had this to say to reporters in Coimbatore the other day: “No negotiation has been held with anyone on the TVK joining the NDA. Having left a lucrative film career, Vijay has taken the political plunge to bring about a change and not to make someone else as the Chief Minister. The TVK has the support of the people.”

Another top functionary C T R Nirmal Kumar also rejected the reports of the party engaged in talks either with the BJP or any other party including that of VK Sasikala and PMK founder S Ramadoss. “False narratives have been circulated in the past linking us with several parties, including the Congress, and it is well known that those claims turned out to be false,” he posted on social media, alleging that these reports are the handiwork of the DMK, to confuse the public. However, even 24 hours is a long time in politics and a more clear picture could emerge when the nomination process comes to a close.