Tens of thousands of people flocked to Vikravandi in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district as actor-turned-politician Vijay unveiled the political objectives of his newly launched party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).
"It is simple. Everything for everyone. A house to live in, food for the stomach, and work for income... as simple as that,” Vijay said, addressing the massive gathering.
Equating politics to a snake, Vijay said he is here to tackle it without fear but with seriousness and a smile.
The GOAT actor, however, admitted that politics is not a cine-field but a battlefield and that his party members must be vigilant on the ground.
"Politics is not a cine field; it is a battlefield. It's serious. Whether it's dealing with a snake or politics, if we decide to take it up with seriousness and a touch of humour, only then can we endure in this field and handle opponents. We need to stay cautious on the ground," he said.
Vijay, popularly known as 'Thalapathy’, emphasised that his party was not aiming to separate Dravidian nationalism and Tamil nationalism, saying they are the “two eyes” of this land.
“We shouldn’t limit ourselves to any one identity,” he said.
Launching a veiled attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the 50-year-old actor-politician alleged "one family" was looting the state through "underground dealings".
"It is easier to identify the divisive forces, but it is difficult to identify the corrupt forces who may hide behind the mask of ideology and principles. Those who rule here are the corrupt forces,” he said.
Vijay also challenged the DMK’s narrative of the Bharatiya Janata Party as a fascist force. “You criticise the BJP by calling it fascist, but are you any better?,” he asked.
Vijay's Vikravanti conference is keenly watched by political parties, observers, and people alike, as he he was expected to unveil his vision for the state and the political agenda.
Political observers are keeping their fingers crossed to see if Vijay’s entry would make any major change in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape traditionally dominated by two Dravidian majors—DMK and AIADMK.
Vijay, who unveiled his party in February this year, has announced that TVK will field candidates in the 2026 assembly elections.
The conference venue had huge cutouts of Dravidian stalwart E.V. Ramasamy, B.R. Ambedkar and Congress veteran and former chief minister K. Kamaraj.