NEW DELHI: Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay on Thursday declared that he would contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections from Madurai East, launching a fiery attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and asserting that his party would emerge as the principal challenger in the polls.
Addressing the party’s second state conference in Madurai, Vijay likened himself to a lion marking its territory. “A lion knows how to live in a crowd and also knows how to live alone. It remains unique. A lion comes out only to hunt, not for entertainment. It always hunts only living prey...,” he said, drawing massive support from thousands of party workers who had gathered for the rally.
Vijay, who formed TVK in 2024, positioned the party as an alternative to both the DMK and the opposition AIADMK , but singled out the ruling party as his main political rival. “Our only ideological enemy is BJP, our only political enemy is DMK...TVK is not a party that was started just for some political benefits...” he said.
The TVK chief asserted that his party was not just another entrant in Tamil Nadu politics but a force with a distinct mission. “TVK is not a political game; it is an ideology. This is not a speech for publicity. This is a warning to those who are in power. TVK is here to dominate. Crores of people are with us. The 2026 election is a fight between TVK and DMK,” he said.
"TVK is not a party that makes underground deals, forges alliances, and cheats the people. We are not afraid of anyone. The people of Tamil Nadu, the women and the youth stand with us," he added.
He also pledged that his party would champion larger Tamil causes, vowing to “free Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka,” a long-standing political demand in the state.
Referring to repeated clashes between Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy, he said, “800 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy. To ensure the safety of our fishermen, retrieve Katchatheevu (islands) and give them to us.”
A show of strength in Madurai:
The Madurai rally was billed as TVK’s biggest political mobilisation yet, with party workers thronging the venue from across the state. This conference marks the party’s second since its inception and signals Vijay’s intent to enter the 2026 elections as a serious contender.
The actor-politician has repeatedly compared the upcoming polls to the historic elections of 1967 and 1977, when newcomers—DMK under CN Annadurai and AIADMK under MG Ramachandran rose to power by defeating entrenched parties. Vijay, however, differs from these leaders as he has only recently entered active politics, despite being a popular figure since 2004.
Last week, he launched the “Now TVK” mobile application to drive membership across Tamil Nadu. At the launch, he urged his cadre to follow Annadurai’s principle of living with the people, learning from them and planning with them.
Vijay said the party’s priority is the safety of women, elders and children, adding that a TVK government would focus on supporting groups needing special attention, such as farmers, youth, transgender people, the elderly without care, and the physically challenged.
He also stressed that TVK would not engage in secret deals, opportunistic alliances, or attempts to mislead the public. According to him, the party is unafraid of challenges and enjoys strong support from the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly women and youth.
Criticism of DMK government:
Vijay has in recent months sharpened his criticism of chief minister MK Stalin ’s government. In a recent post on X, he condemned the arrest of sanitation workers protesting for their rights in Chennai, calling the action “inhumane and anarchic.” He alleged that the government was acting in a “fascist” manner against ordinary people.
"Condemn the fascist DMK government for arresting sanitation workers, who have been peacefully fighting for their rights, in an inhumane and anarchic manner in the dead of night!" Vijay wrote in a post on X.
Tragedy on the way to the rally:
Even as the rally showcased TVK’s strength, it was marred by tragedy. Prabhakaran, a 33-year-old TVK worker from Chennai, collapsed on his way to Madurai to attend the event. He had travelled overnight with friends in a van and reportedly collapsed after stepping out near Chakkimangalam.
His friends rushed him to the Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The hospital dean confirmed that he was brought in an unconscious state and was later declared dead.
Addressing the party’s second state conference in Madurai, Vijay likened himself to a lion marking its territory. “A lion knows how to live in a crowd and also knows how to live alone. It remains unique. A lion comes out only to hunt, not for entertainment. It always hunts only living prey...,” he said, drawing massive support from thousands of party workers who had gathered for the rally.
Vijay, who formed TVK in 2024, positioned the party as an alternative to both the DMK and the opposition AIADMK , but singled out the ruling party as his main political rival. “Our only ideological enemy is BJP, our only political enemy is DMK...TVK is not a party that was started just for some political benefits...” he said.
The TVK chief asserted that his party was not just another entrant in Tamil Nadu politics but a force with a distinct mission. “TVK is not a political game; it is an ideology. This is not a speech for publicity. This is a warning to those who are in power. TVK is here to dominate. Crores of people are with us. The 2026 election is a fight between TVK and DMK,” he said.
"TVK is not a party that makes underground deals, forges alliances, and cheats the people. We are not afraid of anyone. The people of Tamil Nadu, the women and the youth stand with us," he added.
He also pledged that his party would champion larger Tamil causes, vowing to “free Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka,” a long-standing political demand in the state.
Referring to repeated clashes between Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy, he said, “800 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy. To ensure the safety of our fishermen, retrieve Katchatheevu (islands) and give them to us.”
A show of strength in Madurai:
The Madurai rally was billed as TVK’s biggest political mobilisation yet, with party workers thronging the venue from across the state. This conference marks the party’s second since its inception and signals Vijay’s intent to enter the 2026 elections as a serious contender.
The actor-politician has repeatedly compared the upcoming polls to the historic elections of 1967 and 1977, when newcomers—DMK under CN Annadurai and AIADMK under MG Ramachandran rose to power by defeating entrenched parties. Vijay, however, differs from these leaders as he has only recently entered active politics, despite being a popular figure since 2004.
Last week, he launched the “Now TVK” mobile application to drive membership across Tamil Nadu. At the launch, he urged his cadre to follow Annadurai’s principle of living with the people, learning from them and planning with them.
Vijay said the party’s priority is the safety of women, elders and children, adding that a TVK government would focus on supporting groups needing special attention, such as farmers, youth, transgender people, the elderly without care, and the physically challenged.
He also stressed that TVK would not engage in secret deals, opportunistic alliances, or attempts to mislead the public. According to him, the party is unafraid of challenges and enjoys strong support from the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly women and youth.
Criticism of DMK government:
Vijay has in recent months sharpened his criticism of chief minister MK Stalin ’s government. In a recent post on X, he condemned the arrest of sanitation workers protesting for their rights in Chennai, calling the action “inhumane and anarchic.” He alleged that the government was acting in a “fascist” manner against ordinary people.
"Condemn the fascist DMK government for arresting sanitation workers, who have been peacefully fighting for their rights, in an inhumane and anarchic manner in the dead of night!" Vijay wrote in a post on X.
Tragedy on the way to the rally:
Even as the rally showcased TVK’s strength, it was marred by tragedy. Prabhakaran, a 33-year-old TVK worker from Chennai, collapsed on his way to Madurai to attend the event. He had travelled overnight with friends in a van and reportedly collapsed after stepping out near Chakkimangalam.
His friends rushed him to the Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The hospital dean confirmed that he was brought in an unconscious state and was later declared dead.
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