Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Saturday announced that the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will be a direct contest between his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Campaigning in Namakkal as part of a district-wide weekend tour, Vijay accused the DMK of betraying voters with unfulfilled promises and said his movement offered a "people-first alternative" focused on practical solutions rather than flashy but empty pledges.

Thousands of TVK volunteers thronged the streets to greet Vijay as his convoy travelled through Namakkal, delaying his arrival at the campaign venue by nearly six hours. Once on stage, the TVK Chief addressed the crowd for about 15 minutes, blending sharp criticism of the DMK government with emotional appeals rooted in Tamil identity and local pride.

Calling Namakkal "not just a land of eggs and poultry but of Tamil spirit", he invoked poet V. Ramalingam Pillai's famous call for Tamils to stand tall. Vijay also reminded the audience that social justice stalwart P. Subbarayan, from Namakkal, played a key role in securing reservation rights for backward and Scheduled Caste communities.

What were his criticisms of the DMK?

Vijay read out several DMK manifesto commitments, including grain godowns in every union, government procurement and oil production from copra, distribution of natural sweeteners in ration shops, and restoring the old pension scheme to all categories of state employees. He asked pointedly: "They (DMK) said it. Did they do it?"

He also criticised successive state governments for ignoring Namakkal's long-standing demands, such as cold storage and research facilities for egg preservation and disease testing. Vijay alleged that the DMK's neglect had left poor powerloom workers so desperate that kidney trafficking networks preyed on them.

What did Vijay say about TVK’s political stance?

Vijay was emphatic about TVK's political independence.

"We will never ally with the BJP, directly or indirectly. We will not betray Tamil Nadu with opportunistic deals," he said. He also warned voters that "a vote for DMK today is indirectly a vote for BJP", accusing the ruling party of a secret understanding with the Centre.

What are TVK’s promises for the future?

He promised that a future TVK government would focus on basic needs such as good roads, clean drinking water, reliable healthcare, and women's safety and would only announce practical, achievable plans.

"We will not build castles in the sky or promise roads like in America," he said, drawing laughter and cheers from the crowd.

Concluding his speech, Vijay urged Namakkal voters to trust him to create a people-centric government that protects workers and delivers on essential infrastructure without false grandeur.