Actor-politician Vijay on Friday announced that his party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, will not contest the upcoming Erode East bypolls nor will support candidates of any other party in the fray. Earlier, AIADMK, the key opposition party in Tamil Nadu, and the BJP announced they are boycotting the polls.
In a statement issued by TVK’s general secretary N.Anand, the party said the primary goal of TVK is to contest and win the 2026 assembly polls and dethrone the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the state. Accusing the DMK of indulging in anti-democratic practices during the bypolls, the party charged, “The ruling governments in Tamil Nadu have, in the past, shown a disregard for democratic traditions, repeatedly winning by exploiting their political power and engaging in numerous political injustices. This is what history has taught us, where victories in by-elections have often come at the cost of undermining democracy.”
— தமிழக வெற்றிக் கழகம் IT WING (@Tvk_ITWING_) January 17, 2025
It added, “The Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam will boycott the Erode East assembly byelection on February 5, just like the Vikravandi byelection, and will not support any party.”
Vijay’s announcement comes after other opposition parties in the state including Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bharatiya Janata Party and Desiya Murpoku Dravida Kazhagam declared they are boycotting the bypoll alleging it wouldn’t be held in a free and fair manner.
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In a statement, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami alleged attempts would be made to flex money and muscle power in the elections. DMDK also said they are boycotting the bypolls.
BJP state president K. Annamalai stated, “All the leaders of NDA who desire people's welfare, after a detailed consultation, have decided to boycott the Erode East bypolls. Our target is to remove the DMK in the 2026 elections and give the NDA's good governance to people.”
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Congress legislator E.V.K.S. Elangovan in December last year. The ruling DMK has fielded V.C. Chandrakumar for the byelection.
