The recent political rally held by actor Vijay in Tamil Nadu continues to stir discussions among politicians in the state. Known as Thalapathy Vijay, the 50-year-old actor made his debut in politics at a gathering in Villupuram, where he outlined his party’s vision and criticized both the ruling DMK and the BJP.
M. Appavu, the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, commented on Vijay’s emergence, implying that he might be viewed as a replacement for Rajinikanth in the political arena. Speaking to reporters, Appavu noted, “The BJP attempted to draw Rajinikanth into politics, but since he hasn’t engaged, Vijay is being seen as the successor. I’m not the one saying this; it’s a sentiment that’s being expressed.”
Appavu also mentioned Bussy Anand, the general secretary of Vijay’s party, alleging that Anand has ties to the BJP, including connections with Puducherry’s BJP minister and Home Minister Amit Shah. He further highlighted past statements from Vijay’s father, who had labeled Anand a criminal.
The Speaker criticized the founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party for alleging that DMK members were profiting through corruption while simultaneously facing serious accusations related to tax evasion. “Before accusing others of corruption, one should ensure their own record is clean,” he remarked.
Previously, the state law minister, S. Reghupathy, dismissed Vijay’s party as the “C team” of the BJP. In contrast, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram welcomed Vijay’s entry into politics but suggested he should focus more on the ideology of his party rather than using cinematic references.
Chidambaram pointed out that while Vijay discussed seat sharing and power dynamics, he hoped for more substantial ideological discourse. He criticized Vijay’s analogy of fascism to ‘payasam’ (sweet porridge), stating, “Such statements sound more like film dialogues than political ideology.”
Furthermore, regarding Vijay’s mention of seat sharing, Chidambaram noted that electoral outcomes would ultimately dictate those arrangements. He remarked on the changing political landscape since 1996, where multiple parties have emerged in coalitions.
Given Vijay’s minimal criticism of the AIADMK during his address, party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) interpreted it as a sign of the AIADMK’s effectiveness. However, he declined to comment on the ideology of TVK, stating, “Every party has its own ideology, which Vijay has laid out. We cannot judge if it is right or wrong.”
EPS was noncommittal about a potential alliance with TVK, indicating, “We have 18 months until the elections. Since Vijay has just launched his party and held his first conference, any alliance will depend on future circumstances.”
