Tamil Nadu: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor Vijay has hit out at the arrest of Opposition Members of Parliament in Delhi, saying the move was unacceptable in a democracy. The MPs, led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, were marching to the Election Commission’s office demanding fair elections and protesting against the special intensive revision of the voter list in Bihar.

Vijay stressed that free and fair polls are the “foundation of democracy” and insisted that Election Commissioners should be chosen through mutual agreement. He pointed out that TVK was the first political party from Tamil Nadu to raise the alarm over the revision of Bihar’s voter list, calling it a threat to democratic rights.

The actor-politician recalled that, in December last year, he had warned that democracy would survive only if the Constitution was safeguarded.

“It must be ensured that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, in a way that inspires trust among all,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi’s allegations on voter list irregularities

Rahul Gandhi has alleged that more than 1,00,000 fake votes were created using duplicate entries, invalid and fake addresses, multiple voters registered at single addresses, invalid photographs, and misuse of Form 6.

He refused the Election Commission’s request for an affidavit under oath, saying his statement as an MP, made after swearing on the Constitution, was sufficient.

Silence on other allegations

While backing the Opposition’s call for electoral reforms and criticising the Election Commission, Vijay did not comment on Rahul Gandhi’s recent allegations in Madhavapura.

Political positioning ahead of 2026

Vijay, who commands a strong fan following in Tamil Nadu, is preparing for his political debut in the 2026 state elections. He has called the DMK his “political enemy” and the BJP his “ideological enemy,” ruling out any form of alliance with the BJP.

However, he has refrained from targeting the AIADMK, sparking speculation that he might keep the option of an alliance open as elections draw close.
(With agency inputs)