TIRUCHY: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay, launching his maiden public campaign for the 2026 Assembly election, slammed the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu for failing to fulfil its poll promises and the BJP at the centre for “murdering democracy in the name of One Nation, One Poll (ONOP)”.
Addressing a massive gathering near the Marakkadai MGR statue point after a five-hour-long procession from the airport in Tiruchy, Vijay said TVK would not make false assurances but would ensure that basic needs like education, ration, health, water, roads, and electricity are addressed. “There will be no compromise on law and order. We stand for a TN without poverty, corruption, or dynastic politics. Women’s safety will be our uncompromising priority,” he said.
Commencing his ‘I am coming’ state-wide campaign, he asked the crowd, “Will you vote for the DMK?” He raised several questions seeking to put CM M K Stalin’s government in a tight corner. During his speech later in Ariyalur, Vijay criticised the BJP-led centre on the proposed delimitation, claiming it was aimed at weakening opposition parties, particularly in southern states like TN. The actor said that he entered politics only to serve people and not for earn wealth. “What’s the big deal about money? I have seen enough of it. Should I come into politics to make money? No need. I have no other intention other than to serve you”, he said.
Centre wants to hike seats of northern states with delimitation’
Vijay said he consciously chose Tiruchy for his first campaign as the district is steeped in political history. It was here that DMK founder C N Annadurai decided in 1956 to enter electoral politics, and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran held his first state conference in 1974. The city is also known for communal harmony and as the home of rationalist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy, Vijay noted.
“Like kings who prayed to their family deity before war, I have begun my political journey here,” he said. Without naming ministers K N Nehru and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Vijay asked what real benefits Tiruchy gained despite having two cabinet representatives. However, a section of his speech in Tiruchy was marred by audio glitches, leaving parts of his message inaudible to the crowd.
Later at Ariyalur near the old bus stand, Vijay shifted focus to the BJP-led union government. He accused the centre of conspiring through delimitation, alleging that it aims to increase seats for northern states to retain power after anticipating defeat in the 2029 elections. He also charged the BJP with ordering a special intensive revision in the Bihar polls to tilt the scales in its favour.
Calling Chief Minister Stalin “CM Sir”, Vijay said most of the DMK’s 505 promises like LPG subsidy, cash assistance to all women, cancellation of educational loans and filling lakhs of vacancies remain unfulfilled.
Vijay flagged local issues in Tiruchy including drinking water shortages in Manapparai, Vaiyampatti, and Thottiyam, industrial pollution in Siruganur, the kidney racket linked to a DMK legislator’s hospital, and the unchecked clout of the sand mafia.
He hit out at Transport Minister S S Sivasankar for not improving transport facility in his own district and failing to fulfil the promise of setting up a processing unit for cashew.