CHENNAI: Dismissing the repeated attempts to create an impression that Vijay the actor was catapulted straight from the shooting set to the chief minister’s seat, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said he rose from humble beginnings as an actor and reached Fort St George after a nearly three-decade socio-political journey.
Replying to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address in the Assembly, on Tuesday, the CM gave a detailed account of the path traversed by him from social service, which gradually blossomed into a political movement.
Vijay said his public service journey had begun in the 1990s through the fan club (Vijay Rasigar Mandram), which later evolved into a welfare organisation (Vijay Makkal Iyakkam), undertaking educational, social and relief activities. He pointed out that he had consistently spoken out against corruption and for social justice through his films. He also supported causes such as Eelam Tamils, fishermen, Jallikattu, and Sterlite victims.
He said, unlike most political parties, which first launch a party and then reach out to the people, TVK was founded only after he had already reached households across Tamil Nadu. Vijay said that his government carried forward the legacy of governments of ordinary people and that the 2026 mandate had enabled TVK to break the barriers of religion, caste and money power in politics.
Vijay said he had risen from being an actor through hard work and the unwavering affection of the people of Tamil Nadu, to whom he expressed his gratitude.
“Some say that our ministers and MLAs know nothing. Yes, there are indeed many things we do not know — how to siphon off public money, how to inflate the rates of tenders and indulge in corruption, how to demand money for promotions or transfers, etc. We only know how to serve the people,” the CM said amidst cheers from his party MLAs.
“From this august House, I appeal to the people to give us a little more time. While gradually delivering welfare measures to the people, we will also rectify the numerous shortcomings and deficiencies left behind in every department by those who were in power from 2017 until April 2026,” the CM said, taking a dig at previous regimes led by Edappadi K Palaniswami and MK Stalin.
The CM said the TVK government would eliminate power cuts in the state very soon. The CM also turned the tables on the previous DMK government for the deterioration of the law and order situation and the spread of narcotic substances. “What were they doing when the police were in their hands?” he asked, and promised that the law and order situation would be maintained, and safety of women and girls would be ensured.