On Sunday, Thalapathy Vijay made a powerful political entry, holding the first state conference, or “Maanadu,” for his new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
This gathering attracted more than 8 lakh supporters from across Tamil Nadu, showcasing his influence and hinting at his intent to compete seriously with major political parties in Tamil Nadu.
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During the event, Vijay outlined his party’s values, with the slogan, “One caste, one god.” He emphasized equality, stating that all members of his party would be treated equally.
“People say we are children in politics. But we are children who confidently play with the snake of politics,” he said.
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Criticizing traditional political speech styles, he stated, “When everything changes, politics must change too. Should only science and technology evolve? Shouldn’t politics also change and grow?”
Vijay acknowledged Periyar as his party’s ideological leader but clarified that while they embrace his principles of women’s education, equality, and social justice, they do not endorse his atheistic stance.
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He added that K. Kamaraj and B.R. Ambedkar, known for championing social equality, are also guiding forces for the party.
He noted that his party is the first to honor female leaders like Velu Nachiyar and freedom fighter Anjalai Ammal as icons, stressing that they too would be inspirations for his party.
Vijay also took subtle jabs at the DMK. He accused DMK’s ruling family of exploiting Tamil Nadu under the banner of the Dravidian model.
In challenging DMK’s portrayal of the BJP as “fascist,” Vijay asked, “If they are fascist, then what are you doing?”
He addressed critics dismissing him as merely an actor (“Koothadi”) unsuited for politics. Reflecting on similar reactions faced by MGR and NTR when they entered politics, Vijay remarked, “They too were called actors, yet they went on to rule their states. Like them, I will conquer as well!”
Vijay’s speech surprised many, especially in its directness.
Some, however, noted that his platform shares considerable overlap with DMK’s ideology, with skeptics even dubbing his party “V-DMK,” suggesting he may merely be splitting the anti-DMK vote.
Despite this, his debut speech has undeniably created a buzz, with many calling it one of the strongest political debuts in Tamil Nadu’s recent history.
