Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is witnessing a seismic shift as actor-turned-politician Vijay, president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), declared on Sunday, September 14, 2025, that his statewide tour, launched from Tiruchy, has sent shockwaves through the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The overwhelming public support for his campaign, which he described as a “spontaneous awakening,” has visibly unnerved the DMK, with Vijay pointing to a recent letter by Chief Minister M K Stalin to party cadres as evidence of their growing anxiety.
In a fiery statement, Vijay refrained from directly naming Stalin but alluded to the DMK leader’s reference to “new enemies” in his letter about the “Mupperum Vizha” event, interpreting it as a veiled jab at TVK’s rising influence. “The spontaneous awakening for TVK, not just within Tamil Nadu but beyond, has caused much anxiety to our opponents,” Vijay asserted. “The public themselves are questioning the obstacles they pose to TVK.” He criticized the DMK’s rhetoric, noting, “Is it not Tamil tradition that the old gives way to the new? Their letter drips with bitterness and despair.”
Vijay’s tour has drawn massive crowds, turning short journeys into hours-long processions due to the “sea of humanity” rallying behind him. This groundswell of support, he argued, reflects a public yearning for change, challenging the DMK’s dominance. He accused the ruling party of suppressing the voices of marginalized groups, including sanitation workers, anganwadi workers, differently-abled individuals, doctors, nurses, and farmers. “The DMK brands any new people’s movement as an ‘unprincipled crowd,’” Vijay charged, drawing a historical parallel to their dismissal of M G Ramachandran (MGR). “They spewed the same venom at MGR, calling him a mere charmer with no political acumen. No matter how bitterly they cry, TVK will march forward.”
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The TVK leader’s remarks come amid escalating tensions as his fledgling party gains traction ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Vijay’s ability to mobilize masses, leveraging his superstar status from Tamil cinema, has positioned TVK as a formidable contender, unsettling the DMK’s long-standing grip on the state’s politics. Political analysts suggest that Stalin’s letter, which avoided naming TVK but hinted at emerging rivals, betrays the ruling party’s concern over Vijay’s growing clout and his appeal to younger voters and disenfranchised communities.
In a separate statement, Vijay expressed regret for missing a scheduled visit to Perambalur on Saturday due to logistical challenges posed by the crowds. “I apologize to the people of Perambalur for not being able to meet them,” he said, promising a future visit to connect with supporters. This gesture underscores his focus on grassroots engagement, a strategy that has amplified TVK’s visibility across Tamil Nadu.
The DMK’s defensive posture, as perceived by Vijay, highlights a broader political realignment in the state. By framing TVK as a movement for the marginalized, Vijay is tapping into widespread dissatisfaction with governance issues like unemployment, rural distress, and administrative inefficiencies. His invocation of MGR, a cinematic icon who reshaped Tamil Nadu’s politics by founding the AIADMK, signals his ambition to replicate such a transformative impact.
As TVK continues its statewide campaign, the DMK faces the challenge of countering Vijay’s populist narrative without alienating its base. The coming months promise a heated political battle, with Vijay’s charisma and the DMK’s entrenched machinery set to clash in a high-stakes struggle for Tamil Nadu’s future.
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