TVK chief Vijay said his power-sharing offer has unsettled political alliances and rattled Chief Minister M K Stalin at a Salem rally. He also criticised the DMK on governance, defended his party over rally deaths, and expressed confidence of winning the 2026 polls
Salem: TVK chief Vijay in a mega rally here on Friday asserted that his offer to share power with allies has turned out to be a “political bomb” in Tamil Nadu as that has become a demand in all alliances and “rattled” DMK President and Chief Minister MK Stalin who has refused to share power with Congress.
While the rally Vijay addressed turned out to be a crowd puller, it was marred by the death of a 37-year-old man who fainted and died on the way to hospital. TVK said the party was concerned about the safety of the public and stood with the family of the deceased. Strangely, a man was also found dead near the venue and police said he ended his life due to personal issues and it had nothing to do with the political event.
Seeking “justice” from people, Vijay alleged the DMK regime scuttled his party’s rallies through “Stalin Sir Operating Procedure.”
With Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place, permission was given for other political parties for events, but not for his TVK.
In his address, Vijay dramatically claimed that his party, all alone, has grown into Tamil Nadu’s primary force within two years of its founding and that its support base among the people has crossed 30 per cent. By underscoring the 30 per cent support, seen as a marker towards formation of government, Vijay has yet again expressed confidence of winning polls with ease.
On the deaths, DMK wondered how many more lives would be lost before the Assembly election is held and AIADMK said those desirous of attending TVK rallies must carry their own coffins. BJP also hit out at the TVK over the death. TVK defended saying the party had already appealed to its cadres and also members of the public who are sick to refrain from attending the meeting.
In September last year, 41 lives were lost in a stampede at Vijay’s rally in Karur.
In the rally here, indicating that his political entry is shaking the established bipolar politics of the state, the TVK founder said: “Do you remember my political bomb at the Vikravandi rally; offering to share power? It is now exploding recklessly in all the alliances, CM Stalin sir is rattled and he says that power sharing will not suit Tamil Nadu.”
For the DMK, the alliance is only to win polls and for all other things, such as governance, they will be on their own.
Interestingly, when Vijay referred to “other things” he made a gesture which clearly meant money, apparently targeting the DMK.
Mocking at DMK’s ‘Velvom Ondraga’ election slogan (Let us win together), Vijay said, “We will win together; but we will see all alone the wealth that comes.” This is the secret about “we will win together” and I think those who need to understand will understand it well.
Vijay, at Vikravandi rally, had assured a share in governance and power if his party was voted to power.
The TVK chief asserted that he would demonstrate that good governance is possible to those who love the people. Vijay dared leaders in rival parties to start a party on their own and secure one per cent votes at the least.
Without naming the AIADMK, the TVK chief defended his party’s stand of not attacking it, hinting that the Tamil Nadu’s main opposition party has been rejected by the people. More so, the 2026 Assembly election is a fight between his party and the DMK, he said.
Denouncing cash for votes, he said: “They will bring loads of money, they will solicit promises from you in the name of God; that is how they have been deceiving you for many years, take it happily as it is your money. Take it and blow the whistle (TVK symbol) into their ears and send them away.”
The ruling DMK lashed out at Vijay for his strident criticism of the party, saying the actor-politician “simply wants to become CM”.
Responding to Vijay’s assertion that the TVK would emerge victorious in the 2026 Assembly elections, DMK leader T K S Elangovan remarked that several actors in the past have launched political parties and drawn massive crowds but failed to sustain their presence.
“Vijay has not taken part in any agitation for the sake of the people. His intention is not the people; he simply wants to become the chief minister.”
Accusing the CM of lying and misleading people before coming to power, and now, when “leaving power,” the TVK chief said, “you (CM) are on another level when it comes to speaking contradictory things, sir.”
Vijay said the CM had been making contradictory statements on fulfilling electoral assurances and it ranged between 70 per cent in 2022 and 90 per cent in 2025. The claim was about 80 per cent this year. As the election draws closer, it may drop to even 30 to 20 per cent. The TVK chief blamed the CM for his “blatant, outrageous lies.”
Ridiculing Stalin for his often-repeated comment that “Tamil Nadu is always out of Delhi’s control,” Vijay said he would like to list matters that are out of Stalin’s control. He alleged: “First of all, law and order is out of control. In women’s safety, it is out of control. In employment for young people, it is out of control. Overall, his regime/rule itself is out of control.”
He asked why various sections of society, including fishermen, farmers, nurses, teachers, and sanitation and anganwadi workers were staging protests if people are happy. He listed several “basic problems”, including civic issues and wondered why there was a ruling party in the first place if so many basic issues remained unaddressed.