Marking the second anniversary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the beginning of its third year, party founder Vijay addressed party workers and supporters, crediting the party’s rapid growth in Tamil Nadu to its cadre and supporters.
Vijay recalled a June 1977 radio interview of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran, saying MGR had spoken of weeping after seeing “how such people had come to sit in the place once occupied by Perarignar Anna.” Vijay quoted MGR as saying that the movement formed to wipe away those tears was the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Drawing a parallel with the present, Vijay said, “In the same way, after 2017, after 2021, when the people of Tamil Nadu reflected on the state of our land—thinking about how people like these had come to occupy the place where Kamarajar stood, where Anna stood, where MGR stood—the people of Tamil Nadu shed tears. Today, the movement that was formed to wipe away those tears is Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.”
Anticipating backlash, Vijay said, “Because we speak like this, some people will definitely get agitated. We should not worry about that. Because getting agitated is their only job.” Recalling how MGR was mocked even after winning elections, he said critics had dismissed MGR as “some actor, some new party, some so-called revolutionary leader.” Vijay added, “So, whoever enters politics, their job is to get agitated.”
Responding to questions about his political experience, Vijay said, “Even after we entered politics, they ask: ‘What experience does Vijay have?’… This is the same mouth that once said about MGR that he didn’t even know the ABC of politics, that he relied only on glamour, that he was an empty-tongued publicity seeker who only knew how to ask questions but not answer them.”
He added that critics had also said MGR would not face reporters, would not go against Delhi, and was “under pressure from above.”
Vijay said ridicule was not limited to leaders alone. “Not just MGR, they didn’t spare even his cadre. They mocked those who were dazzled by glitter and sparkle,” he said, adding that people had watched such mockery silently. “You know very well what they did after that.”
Referring to electoral victories, Vijay said, “After he won, those who thought they had settled permanently in politics saw their dreams collapse… Just like 1977, even now, they bring out the same old, rusted, decayed, poisonous, worn-out weapons.” He added pointedly, “My dear gentlemen, technology has moved far ahead. At least change your tactics a little.”
Vijay said even former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj had not been spared. “They mocked him asking what he knew about literature… That great leader was ridiculed,” he said.
He continued, “When we point out their mistakes, when we expose their atrocities, when we speak about their corruption, they roll out the same tin box from 50 years ago. What else would a seventy-year-old woman know (Pavizhavizha Papavukku enna theriyum)? They only know to roll the old box.”
Rejecting calls to stay silent, Vijay said, “Just because they keep rolling out the same old box, can we stop speaking about their mistakes? We will speak. We will keep speaking.”
Invoking classical Tamil literature, Vijay said, “In today’s digital world, if Thiruvalluvar were alive, what Thirukkural would he have written about these evil forces?” He then offered an imagined verse: “Of all things like injustice, lawlessness and crooked dealings, the DMK stands first in the world.”
On multi-cornered contests, Vijay said, “They talk about three-cornered contests, four-cornered contests. Let them talk.” He described one side as TVK, another as the DMK-led alliance, and another as the BJP-led alliance, saying, “On one side is the massive people’s power—us. On another side is the DMK-led alliance. On another side is the BJP-led alliance – several others. Why are you laughing? I’m telling the truth. No matter how many forces come together to defeat the DMK, only the massive people’s power that is us can do it.”
Responding to critics who ask why he does not appear publicly more often, Vijay said, “When they ask, ‘Vijay, why don’t you come out of your house?’ I feel like saying, ‘Oh God, everyone is calling me.’” He added that on voting day, “every Vijay and every Viji in every house will come early in the morning and stand in line… That day, they will regret why they called Vijay.”
On opinion polls, Vijay said, “Some say they are genuine polls, some are frustration-driven polls.” He urged critics to conduct surveys “street by street, house by house,” adding, “In every house, you will see a TVK presence. If that shocks you, erase everything and start again—the result will be the same.”
Referring to remarks by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, Vijay said, “About two years ago… he said that seeing the atrocities committed by some people in his party and some ministers, he couldn’t sleep at night. That video still exists.” He added, “Ask him even in his sleep which symbol he will vote for—he will say the whistle symbol.”
Rejecting claims that TVK was limited to cities, Vijay said, “There is no village where the whistle symbol hasn’t reached. Wherever the whistle symbol is, TVK is there.” He added, “No one can stop my mothers, sisters, brothers, and families from voting for TVK… This is the ground reality.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 Assembly elections, Vijay declared, “To defeat the evil force, only the pure force that is us can succeed. In the 2026 Assembly elections, TVK is the only option for the people—otherwise, no diversion. This dabba engine, broken engine… no matter how many engines come, the top engine is TVK.”
Calling on party workers to intensify grassroots mobilisation, he said, “Your only job is to ensure votes for the whistle symbol. I will take care of the rest with the people.”
Concluding, Vijay said, “In Tamil Nadu politics, the whistleblower is TVK… at Fort St George, TVK will rise as the ruling party. I am with you.”
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