At an event held on 8 January 2026, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thirumavalavan made remarks targeting actor Vijay and former VCK functionary Aadhav Arjuna, targeting Arjuna’s decision to leave the party and join Vijay’s newly launched political outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
Addressing party members, Thirumavalavan said that for over three decades he had guided and mentored leaders within the VCK and taught them the principles of Ambedkarite politics and party organisation. He questioned the decision to leave the VCK in favour of a party newly formed by a film actor, stating that Vijay lacked political experience and was only beginning to learn politics.
Thirumavalavan said, “For 35 years, I held your hand and guided you, but you’re leaving me, Thirumavalavan, who taught you politics, the one who taught you how a party should function, and suddenly someone who’s very popular in the film industry has started a party, and you think you can go with him? He doesn’t have your experience. He’s in kindergarten. In this party, I’ve already nurtured you, made you a PhD. You went and said that a boy in kindergarten is your leader. If you say that a child studying in LKG is your leader, then all these years you spent doing your PhD are meaningless, the doctorate you earned is meaningless. He doesn’t even have the experience you have. He’s only now going to learn politics. Now you go there and teach him; the disciples have to teach the leader. Here, each and every one is growing into a leader.”
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