Sellur Raju targets Vijay, cautions against film stars’ political failures

Senior All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ( AIADMK ) leader Sellur Raju on Monday took a dig at actor-turned-politician Vijay , expressing hope that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ( TVK ) chief does not meet the political fate of film stars who entered politics earlier.

Addressing reporters here ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections , Raju referred to actor Kamal Haasan’s political journey, stating that despite launching a party with lofty promises, he eventually aligned with the ruling DMK for limited political space. “I hope Vijay does not end up in a similar situation,” he said.

Responding to Vijay’s assertion that the electoral contest in the State would be between the DMK and TVK, Raju said only voters would decide who had a real presence on the ground. He dismissed large turnouts at Vijay’s meetings as a natural outcome of his popularity as a film star.

“When actors speak, crowds gather. But sustained engagement with the people alone will translate into votes,” the AIADMK leader said, adding that public curiosity should not be mistaken for political strength.

On speculation over a possible alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and TVK, Raju said it was for the BJP to decide, but cautioned that Vijay was yet to establish his political credentials, having not contested any election so far.

The remarks have revived comparisons with Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi , who launched the Praja Rajyam Party in 2008. Despite winning 18 seats in the 2009 Assembly elections, the party merged with the Congress in 2011 due to organisational challenges, and Chiranjeevi later stepped away from active politics.

Unlike Chiranjeevi, Vijay has announced a complete exit from cinema and has declared his intent to contest the 2026 Assembly elections independently. However, critics note that converting popularity into votes remains his biggest challenge against the entrenched DMK and AIADMK.