The Karnataka Deputy CM said he met lakhs of voters and campaigned with the message of the Congress leadership. Vijay, contesting from Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur, has labelled the ruling bloc a “cash box alliance”.
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The political temperature in Tamil Nadu just got hotter. According to Karnataka’s Deputy CM, politics is not cinema. In a sharp remark, DK Shivakumar took a swipe at actor-turned-politician Vijay, saying people cannot be “fooled like in a film.” His comments come as campaigning intensifies ahead of the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026.
The statement quickly added spice to an already heated political contest, especially because Vijay is making his electoral debut with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
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Speaking to reporters during his campaign visit, Shivakumar said he had met “lakhs of people” and spread the message of the Indian National Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge. He stressed that the Congress stands firmly with the ruling alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
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Shivakumar sounded confident about the outcome. He said the DMK alliance has done “great work” and will continue delivering results. According to him, the alliance is heading toward a comfortable victory. He also claimed the coalition could even secure a two-thirds majority, indicating strong confidence in voter support.
He repeated that the Congress remains committed to the DMK alliance and dismissed any suggestion of internal cracks. His remarks aimed to reinforce unity within the Secular Progressive Alliance, which is seeking another term in power.
Shivakumar didn’t hold back while responding to Vijay’s claims. He said only the Indian National Congress is the “original Congress” and rejected the actor-politician’s suggestion that Congress cadres are backing TVK.
In a sharp tone, he called Vijay an “immature politician” and insisted that film dialogues don’t work in real politics. He added that Vijay may have some support from smaller groups but not from Congress. The remark clearly targeted Vijay’s attempt to position himself as a fresh alternative in the state.
Shivakumar also underlined that Congress workers remain aligned with the DMK and are not shifting loyalties. His statement was meant to counter Vijay’s narrative that grassroots secular supporters were moving toward TVK.
Earlier, Vijay had fired back at the DMK-led bloc, calling it a “cash box alliance.” He also said the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was essentially similar.
Vijay is contesting from two constituencies: Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur. His entry is expected to turn the contest into a three-cornered battle between the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the NDA, and TVK.
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across all 234 constituencies. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
With inputs from ANI.
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