Goal to see 'no family dominance' - TVK Chief Vijay
Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Saturday sharpened his political attack against the DMK, taking his campaign to Chief Minister M K Stalin’s home turf of Tiruvarur. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief accused the ruling party of perpetuating “family dominance,” neglecting farmers and fishermen, and stalling Tamil Nadu’s progress. Sporting a green headgear symbolic of farmers’ struggles, Vijay addressed massive rallies in Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur, the heart of the Cauvery delta region. He declared that the 2026 Assembly elections would be a straight fight between the DMK and his fledgling TVK.
Attack on Stalin and DMK
Opening his speech in Tiruvarur with a reference to the town’s famed temple car, once revived by late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, Vijay likened Tamil Nadu to a chariot whose movement was now being “blocked” by Karunanidhi’s son and current Chief Minister Stalin.
“They say with pride that Tiruvarur is their native place. But look at the state of this district poor roads, lack of amenities, unfulfilled promises on railway routes, and a medical college that itself needs treatment,” Vijay charged, drawing loud applause. He ridiculed Stalin’s foreign trips, questioning whether they were genuinely to attract investments for Tamil Nadu or “to secure his family’s investments abroad.”
“CM sir, tell me from your heart: is it investment from abroad, or investment abroad?” he asked, to cheers from his supporters.
Farmers and fishermen issues
Vijay turned the spotlight on Cauvery delta farmers, alleging that they were forced to pay a commission of ₹40 per 40-kg paddy bag at procurement centres, while their actual benefit from the government was just ₹10. “For one ton, that is ₹1,000 as commission. Imagine how many crores have been looted from farmers in the past four-and-a-half years,” he said. “Farmers do not lie, CM sir. What is your answer to them?”
On fishermen’s woes, he criticised both the Centre and the State, accusing Stalin of limiting himself to “writing letters to the Prime Minister and then remaining silent.” TVK, he promised, would seek permanent solutions to issues faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen and Sri Lankan Tamils.
“Stalin with you” or “Stalin with his family?”
Without directly naming Industries Minister T R B Rajaa, Vijay accused him of working only to serve the Chief Minister’s family interests. “‘Ungaludan Stalin’ (Stalin with you) - but with whom is he? With the people, or only with his family?” he asked, quoting a popular weekly that had raised similar questions.
Call for “True democracy”
Promising that TVK’s manifesto would contain only practical, achievable goals, Vijay outlined his party’s core vision: a Tamil Nadu free of poverty, corruption, and family control. “There will be no compromise on women’s safety, law and order, and basic needs like roads, healthcare, drinking water, and education,” he declared. “We want to build a true democracy, one that has a conscience.”
In a dramatic gesture, Vijay removed the green towel from his shoulders and tied it around his head, drawing thunderous chants of “Vijay” from the crowds. “They say this is an empty gathering that will not vote for TVK. Tell me, is this an empty gathering?” he asked. The deafening response was taken as a pledge of loyalty to his party.
Symbolism and Significance
Green, associated with farming, was at the centre of Vijay’s imagery as he reached out to the agrarian heartland. Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, part of the fertile Cauvery delta, have been strongholds of the DMK and the Left for decades. Tiruvarur’s Tirukkuvalai, Karunanidhi’s birthplace, remains deeply linked with Dravidian political history. By choosing this stage to launch one of his fiercest attacks yet, Vijay signaled his determination to challenge the DMK on its home ground and pitch TVK as the true alternative for Tamil Nadu’s future.