Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay filed his nomination from the Tiruchy East constituency on Thursday, as large crowds of supporters flooded the streets and briefly disrupted movement in the city.
The rush of supporters around his convoy led to tense moments. A woman who was running alongside reportedly fell during the commotion. Vijay stopped his vehicle, stepped out, and checked on her before continuing. The incident added to concerns around crowd control and public safety during the high-profile roadshow.
The nomination marks Vijay’s second contest in the election, after filing papers earlier from Perambur. His entry from two constituencies, combined with an aggressive campaign, is shaping a more complex contest in Tamil Nadu, where the main fight has traditionally been between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and the AIADMK-led NDA.
After filing his papers with Returning Officer Muthu Murugesa Pandian, Vijay paid floral tributes to former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran and interacted with the public, mixing symbolism with political messaging.
Campaign pitch: Gas shortage, safety fears and ‘false promises’
Addressing a gathering in Tiruchirappalli, Vijay launched a direct attack on the ruling DMK government, calling it an “evil force” and urging voters to remove it from power.
“This evil force, DMK, which cannot even ensure your safety or provide basic facilities, what should we do with it? Shall we throw it out?” he said.
He accused the government of failing to deliver on its 2021 promises, pointing to the subsidy on LPG cylinders and the promise to scrap NEET. “All the things that Stalin could not actually implement were given as false promises,” he said, adding that he would not make commitments he cannot fulfil.
Vijay also flagged a reported shortage of LPG cylinders, blaming both the Centre and the state government. He questioned whether enough supply was reaching households and businesses, saying the situation had affected small establishments like tea shops and hotels.
“How is the gas issue now? Has everything been resolved? Due to the gas shortage, how many problems have arisen? How many tea shops have shut down? How many hotels have closed? If they had been more cautious and taken preventive measures, could the gas shortage have been controlled? Only two people (the Union and the state government) are responsible for the gas shortage,” he said.
Referring to the recent killing of a schoolgirl in Vilathikulam, he said people were living in fear and raised concerns over law and order.
Manifesto promises and electoral battle lines
The TVK leader has promised “anti-drug protection zones” in educational institutions and financial assistance for students. As per his announcement, graduates would receive Rs 4,000 per month and diploma holders Rs 2,000.
He also spoke about creating employment opportunities for locals, saying steps would be taken to ensure 75 per cent of jobs in the state go to Tamils. Another proposal, the “Creative Entrepreneurs Scheme”, aims to support 1.5 lakh creators and set up 500 creative schools.
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across 234 constituencies, with counting scheduled for May 4. The election is expected to see a contest between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, but Vijay’s entry could turn it into a three-cornered fight.