Eight months after he launched his party, actor-turned-politician Vijay unveiled his ideologies and political goals at his maiden rally at V Salai near Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu. The 49-year-old most celebrated actor in the state said that his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) would focus on ideals and the goals laid by Periyar with a focus on equality, social justice, and secularism.
In his political speech at the TVK rally, Vijay targeted DMK by saying that one family was looting the state. He slammed the DMK describing it as cheating the people in the name of the Dravidian model.
Entrusting his faith in the people of Tamil Nadu, Vijay said that they would vote to make his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as the single largest party in the 2026 assembly elections in the state. He said if other political parties want to form an alliance with the TVK, he will give them a share in the government.
Vijay said he will travel in the path laid by the Dravidian icons like Periyar, and C.N. Annadurai and embrace both Dravidian and Tamil Nationalism as his ideologies. He also added that ‘Dravidam’ and Tamil Nationalism are two eyes of the soil and he would embrace both on the same scale.
“I may be a baby in politics. But not fearful as everyone says. I am like a child playing with a snake without any fear,” Vijay said, hinting he can take on his political enemies with a resolve to fight.
Being colloquial, Vijay was very casual as he spoke among the cadres. Filled with energy and enthusiasm, Vijay first walked down the ramp waving hands to his fans and followers. As they threw the party flag colour shawl Vijay caught them only to drape them around his neck.
Vijay said that he will not use the poetic formal way of speech. He ensured that he connected with the crowd through his body language and speech.
“Here’s a belief that speeches need to be fiery. We don’t need that. Let’s come straight to the point without the typical trappings of political speeches,” he said.
The young actor, clad in a white shirt and a beige coloured trouser with a party flag colour shawl draped around his neck was full of energy and enthusiasm, only to make it obvious that he has the potential to turn into a formidable force in Tamil Nadu. Stating that everything including politics has to change, he said the only things that never change are “hunger and unemployment.”
Stating that Periyar is his ideological leader, Vijay, said, “We won’t solely adopt the aspect of atheism he promoted, nor will we reject the beliefs of others. As Annadurai said, ‘Onrey Kulam, Oruvane Devan’ (One community, one God) is our slogan too. We will embrace every other value that Periyar stood for, from self-respect to women’s empowerment.”
The second leader, Vijay said is the former chief minister and Congress leader K. Kamaraj as he stood for secular values and transparent governance. “This is why we choose him as a guiding light,” Vijay said.
Stating that B.R. Ambedkar is the third leader embraced by his party, he added, that the very mention of the name of Ambedkar would shake those who try to derail the social justice system of India.
And then, in a move to appeal to the women and a section of South Tamil Nadu, he said his party would follow the legacy of Velu Nachiyar, the queen who fought the British with almost valour.
“Women’s empowerment is our key slogan. We are the first political party to adopt this slogan,” Vijay said. Anjalai Ammal, who fought for India’s independence, was another leader his party would follow.
Stating that he didn’t enter politics to preach merely but to act he pointed out that his ideological fight is non-negotiable. “We are entering politics to continue this fire until our goals are achieved.”
Vijay said he is not an alternate force but wants to emerge as a formidable force to fight the existing political parties. The talk about alternative politics or politics for change actually doesn’t impress the young actor-politician. He said his mission is to liberate Tamil Nadu from the deceptive, divisive, and corrupt forces.
“We will maintain political decency and decorum. We have come here with a firm decision. No looking back.”
Vijay apparently made it clear that he had come up with a plan and that the crowd was not a mere gathering but had come with a cause. “This gathering isn’t here for money but for a cause. So, to the media trolls, social media trolls, and slander campaigns spreading lies, calling us an ‘A team’ or a ‘B team’—don’t even dream of destroying us with these tricks,” Vijay said.
The actor also took on the BJP and the DMK with the same scale saying the two are fooling people. He said the DMK is running an anti-people government and deceiving people by calling it a ‘Dravidian model’ government. “They are doing Facisim. But are you doing Payasam (a sweet dish)?” He said the DMK is doing the Modi Masthan job (meaning deceiving people).
Vijay said his political path would be to ensure permanent protection to uphold the values of democracy, equality, secularism, social justice, women’s empowerment, and education and his ideology is one line, “ellorukkum ellam,” meaning ‘everything for everyone’.
For the young crowd gathered at V Salai near Vikravandi, it was more than watching the First Day First Show of a Vijay movie with much more emotions and energy. But at the age of 49, Vijay has a promising political career as he doesn’t target the alternate space like Vijayakanth.