March 4th 2025.
Chennai: In a recent statement, senior AIADMK leader and former minister D. Jayakumar dismissed actor-turned-politician Vijay's vision of forming a government in Tamil Nadu in 2026 as a mere "daydream", comparing it to the BJP's aspirations for the state. He emphasized that while having a dream is one thing, turning it into reality is a whole different challenge.
Jayakumar stated that Vijay's comments may have been made to motivate his party members, a common tactic used by political leaders. However, he firmly believes that it will remain a daydream and not materialize into something tangible. This was in response to Vijay's recent claim that his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is gaining momentum and will create history in the upcoming elections, much like the landmark victories of 1967 and 1977.
In 1967, the DMK, led by C.N. Annadurai, overthrew the Congress government, marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape. A decade later, in 1977, M. G. Ramachandran and his newly formed AIADMK defeated the DMK to take power. Jayakumar strongly opposed any comparison between MGR and Vijay, stating that equating a towering leader like MGR with the leader of a fledgling party is unacceptable.
He also criticized the Union government for its policies, including the imposition of a three-language system and withholding funds from Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. Vijay officially launched his party, TVK, on February 2, 2024, with a focus on fighting corruption and divisive politics. While he did not participate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he has announced that the TVK will contest in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
On August 22, 2024, Vijay unveiled the party's flag and flag song at the TVK's headquarters in Chennai. The party then held its inaugural conference on October 27, 2024, in Vikravandi, Villupuram district, drawing an estimated crowd of three lakh people. The event caused heavy traffic congestion, leading to diversions on the Chennai-Tiruchi National Highway.
During his speech at the conference, Vijay strongly criticized both the DMK and the BJP, labeling the latter as his ideological adversary and the former as his political adversary. He accused the DMK of being a "family-centric party that exploits the Dravidian identity for personal gain" and condemned the BJP for engaging in "divisive politics".
These remarks led the DMK to label Vijay and the TVK as the "C team" of the BJP. Vijay's influence in Tamil Nadu politics has been steadily growing since his fan club, All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, won 115 out of the 169 seats it contested in the 2021 local body elections. In contrast, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam and Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi did not secure any seats. This success has strengthened Vijay's position in the political arena.
He has also made it clear that the TVK will only align with parties that accept his leadership. Political analysts believe that these moves indicate Vijay's intention to become a serious contender for the Chief Minister's post in the 2026 Assembly elections. With his growing influence and popularity, it is evident that Vijay is determined to make a mark in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.
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