‘Not here for hate politics’: Vijay says TVK commands 30 pc support in Tamil Nadu

Salem (Tamil Nadu): Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Friday declared that his party has grown into Tamil Nadu’s leading political force within just two years of its founding, claiming a support base of more than 30 per cent.

Addressing a rally, the actor-turned-politician said, “We came into politics to repay our debt of gratitude to the people; we are not here for hate politics.” He challenged leaders of rival parties to start their own organisations and secure at least one per cent of the vote, daring them to prove their strength without relying on established platforms.

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Vijay dismissed criticism that TVK was inexperienced, asking, “Beyond looting people’s money using power, do they have any other extraordinary experience?” He added, “We certainly do not have experience in looting and we will never learn it.”

The TVK leader insisted that effective governance required only “the good quality of loving the people”. He asserted, “In order to give good governance, one does not necessarily have to be highly educated. Like Kamarajar and MGR, with the support of people’s power, with the support of good officers who care for the people, I can give excellent governance. I will do it.”

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Vijay accused both the DMK and AIADMK of depending solely on alliance partners, while claiming that TVK had overtaken them as a primary force in Tamil Nadu. He alleged that the Dravidian parties had abandoned the principles of their founders, CN Annadurai and MG Ramachandran, and said the AIADMK had also forgotten J Jayalalithaa’s vision.

He further argued that TVK did not share the “experience” of having an ideology merely for the sake of it and later “surrendering” to rivals, a charge he directed at both major parties.

PTI