Home News After Manipulating Children During Elections, TVK Now Mobilises Students For Massive Joseph...

After Manipulating Children During Elections, TVK Now Mobilises Students For Massive Joseph Vijay Birthday Spectacles

By
The Commune
-
After manipulating Children During Elections, TVK Now Mobilises Students For Massive joseph Vijay Birthday Spectacles

A series of events organised across Tamil Nadu to mark the 52nd birthday of Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay has reignited questions about the increasing use of schoolchildren and educational institutions for political image-building exercises.

Over the past several days, multiple events involving thousands of students have been organised in the Chief Minister’s honour, with children participating in mass displays, record attempts, rallies, martial arts performances, and public celebrations centred around Vijay’s birthday.

One of the most striking events took place at GFC Global Public School in Puduppakkam, Thiruvallur district, where nearly 3,000 students assembled on a sprawling 34,000-square-foot ground to create a gigantic human portrait of Chief Minister Vijay. The aerial formation, visible only from above, was designed as a world-record attempt.

According to organisers, the students not only formed Vijay’s facial likeness but also performed Silambam continuously while maintaining the formation in an effort to secure a place in a world record book. The event transformed thousands of children into a living tribute to a sitting Chief Minister, raising questions about whether educational spaces should be used for such personality-centric displays.

In another highly publicised programme held to commemorate Vijay’s 52nd birthday, students trained in what organisers described as “Midbrain Activity” assembled a six-foot portrait of the Chief Minister while blindfolded.

The exercise was carefully choreographed around the number 52 to coincide with Vijay’s age. With their eyes covered, children were required to identify and place puzzle blocks correctly, completing the giant portrait in exactly 52 seconds. The event was attended by senior TVK functionaries and Minister N. Anand, who distributed prizes, certificates and appreciation awards to the participating students.

Meanwhile, in Mayiladuthurai, schoolchildren participated in Silambattam rallies and public celebrations organised specifically to mark the Chief Minister’s birthday. Videos from the event showed students performing traditional martial arts demonstrations as part of the festivities.

The growing involvement of students in political celebrations comes amid separate allegations that TVK cadres have recently entered government school premises and displayed the Chief Minister’s photographs within educational institutions.

Adding to the controversy are allegations emerging from Thirubhuvanam Government Boys Higher Secondary School, where local residents accused TVK functionaries of using a government school ground for party-related birthday events.

Speaking on camera, residents claimed that political flags had been erected inside the government school campus and that schoolchildren were being used for a function linked to the Chief Minister’s birthday celebrations.

“This is a government school ground. No political party has conducted such an event here before. Now TVK has come, tied party flags and is using schoolchildren for its programme,” one resident alleged. Others claimed that while political groups had occasionally attempted activities in the area previously, they were asked to remove banners, whereas the current programme allegedly involved a much larger political presence inside the school premises.

Here is an apparent contradiction: political leaders frequently claim that children should be kept away from politics, yet increasingly elaborate birthday events are being organised around a serving Chief Minister using students as participants, performers and visual symbols.

This extends beyond a single birthday celebration. Using children in leader-centric events has become a recurring feature of Vijay’s political journey. During the 2026 Assembly elections, opponents had accused TVK of involving children in campaign activities aimed at influencing parents and relatives. The latest birthday programmes represent a continuation of the same trend, with students being used as vehicles for political messaging and leader glorification. While supporters may call these events as harmless celebrations and talent showcases, it is a matter of concern seeing educational institutions and minors drawn into activities centred on promoting the image of a serving Chief Minister.

Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR