Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and party chief Vijay on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), branding it a “destructive force” and accusing it of indulging in “ugly politics” and false propaganda, while projecting his party as a “force of purity” aligned with the people.
Addressing a large public rally in Vijayamangalam in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district, Vijay said “vested interests” were carrying out a smear campaign against him, but asserted that such attempts would not succeed.
“DMK is an evil force. TVK is a pure force. I stand with the people, and the people stand with me,” he told the gathering. “They are indulging in ugly politics and spreading false propaganda. I do not understand such politics, and we will never practise it.”
The rally marked Vijay’s first major public address since the Karur tragedy on September 27 and is being closely watched as TVK seeks to expand its footprint in western Tamil Nadu.
Vijay targets DMK, calls it anti-people and deceptive
In a fiery speech, the actor-turned-politician said the political contest ahead was not between multiple parties, but between what he described as a “corrupt and anti-people DMK” and a people-centric alternative offered by TVK.
“The government is thinking 24 hours a day about how to silence Vijay and TVK. They keep claiming they are not afraid, but their actions show otherwise,” he said.
Vijay added that TVK would focus only on those who were directly in the political contest. “We will not fight opponents who are not in the field. Tell us who stands against us, and we will fight them,” he remarked, reiterating that his political strategy would remain issue and opponent-specific.
He also spoke emotionally about his bond with the public, saying his decision to enter politics was rooted in the support he received during his early years in cinema. “I entered politics because of you. Never abandon this Vijay, who has abandoned everything else,” he told supporters.
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Sengottaiyan hails Vijay as future Chief Minister
Former AIADMK leader and TVK functionary KA Sengottaiyan, addressing the rally, claimed the massive turnout reflected a political shift in the making.
“When we see this sea of people, it is clear this is the gathering that will create history by making Vijay the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu tomorrow,” he said, describing Vijay as a “revolutionary commander”.
Sengottaiyan also claimed that Vijay had sacrificed substantial commercial earnings to enter politics and serve the people.
The rally venue witnessed a heavy crowd of TVK supporters, with yellow party flags and sloganeering underscoring the charged atmosphere. Vijay had earlier arrived in Coimbatore by chartered flight before travelling by road to Erode, where he received a rousing welcome.
Meanwhile, a TVK supporter reportedly fell unconscious during the rally and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Further details are awaited.
For TVK, the Erode rally is being seen as a statement of intent, with Vijay’s remarks setting the tone for the party’s political positioning ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.