AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday launched his first direct political attack on actor-turned-politician Vijay, founder of the Tamil Nadu Victory Party (TVK). Speaking at meetings in Kancheepuram and Uthiramerur, Palaniswami without naming Vijay accused him of aspiring for “rewards without toiling for it” and asserted that such political dreams would not succeed.
The remarks came hours after Vijay, at his party’s second state conference in Madurai, declared that the 2026 Assembly elections would be a straight contest between the TVK and the DMK. Responding sharply, Palaniswami reiterated that the AIADMK remained the only credible force to challenge the DMK and dismissed Vijay’s comments as politically immature.
Taking exception to Vijay’s veiled criticism of the AIADMK’s leadership, Palaniswami questioned how cadres could place trust in a leader who, according to him, did not even know who heads the party. He pointed out that the TVK had completed only two conferences and described it as a “1.5-year-old child” that had yet to contest even a single Assembly election.
He said, “They are asking who is in charge of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam now. I see that he is speaking out of ignorance. If a party is told that it has a leader without even knowing this, how can there be any volunteers who trust him. Think about it, there are so many people, so many ADMK volunteers, administrators, sympathizers, so some people are talking about some opinions as they wish, without knowing what is happening in the country today. But ADMK is not like that. The party founded by our leaders, the party founded by the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the downtrodden, the party that has made countless plans for them and implemented them and has gained momentum through them, the party ADMK, the party does not bear fruit as soon as it takes a tree. First, you have to plant the plant, water it, take care of it, fertilize it, it gradually grows into a tree, and then that tree blooms, grows and bears fruit. That is how a movement grows. No movement can do good to the people. That is how Ponmanachemmal revolutionary leader MGR came to power after giving his hard work for five years after the party was founded. Puratchi Thalaivi is also like that. She did not become the Chief Minister immediately. She worked for the people for many years and gained the respect of the people and became the Chief Minister of the country through that. Anna did not become the Chief Minister immediately after coming into politics. He faced so many struggles in his life. He went to jail for the language. He dedicated his life on the basis of doing good to the people of the country. In this way, all our leaders have lived dedicatedly for the people and have identified the ADMK movement for us.”
Invoking the legacy of MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Palaniswami said that every new party in Tamil Nadu begins by invoking their names but stressed that only the AIADMK carried their true political legacy and had the strength to take on the ruling DMK.
What Did Vijay Say?
Taking a dig at the AIADMK for the first time since he launched the party, Vijay, at the conference in Madurai said, “Who doesn’t know MGR? Who doesn’t know what his “mass” was? As long as he was alive, no one ould even think or dream about that CM seat. MSG is one who even made his enemies beg for the CM seat by saying that they will return it to MGR later – he even made enemies beg! Who is building and protecting the party he started? How is the party today? Do I have to tell that to you? Innocent cadre are unable to say it out loud and suffering in pain. Those innocent volunteers also know very well who to vote for in the 2026 assembly elections and what kind of government they want to have here. That is why no matter how many disguises the BJP comes to Tamil Nadu, all their tricks will not work here.”
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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