TN governor invites Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to ‘At Home’ event on Republic Day

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has invited actor Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to the customary ‘At Home’ event on Republic Day.

Sources in Raj Bhavan said the invitation was extended to Vijay as the leader of a party registered with the Election Commission of India.

At a time when the ruling DMK dispensation is critical of the governor and had announced that it will boycott the At Home reception on Republic Day to express its opposition to the governor’s style of functioning, the invite sent by Ravi to Vijay has created a buzz in the political circles in Tamil Nadu.

On Friday, speaking at an event in the party headquarters, DMK leader and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said, “The DMK came to power only eight years after it was founded. But now, the newcomers claim they will come to power immediately after launching the party. I don’t want to name and identify any of them.”

However, it is understood that Stalin was referring to Vijay and his newly launched TVK. Incidentally, a year after launching the party, Vijay, on Friday, appointed office bearers for 19 districts. Vijay held interviews with the party functionaries, at his party headquarters in Panaiyur and appointed 285 functionaries for 19 party district units.

While the two Dravidian majors—DMK and the AIADMK—have only close to 80 party districts for 234 assembly segments in the state, TVK will have 120 party districts. Each party district unit will have one district secretary, treasurer, joint secretary, two assistant secretaries and 10 executive committee members. The district functionaries have been appointed for Ariyalur, Ranipet, Erode, Cuddalore, Karur, Kallakurichi, Salem, Coimbatore, Thanjavur and Namakkal. The next round of appointments will be made in the coming weeks, a source from TVK informed THE WEEK.

Speaking to the district secretaries, TVK general secretary N. Anand said the party leadership will not accept anyone who accepts bribes for appointing office bearers for the district units.

After the first public rally at Vikravandi, participating at a B.R. Ambedkar book launch event and then at a protest at Ekanapuram against the newly coming up Paranthur airport, Vijay had ensured that he is in the limelight and being a talking point among the people. It is just thrice since the launch of the party, Vijay has come out to attend a public event. And only a year after the party was registered, the district functionaries have been appointed.