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Why Part-Time Politician Vijay’s TVK Is DMK’s B-Team And A Lickspittle Meant To Split Anti-DMK Votes

March 18, 2025
The Commune

Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is being consistently portrayed by the Dravidianist media as a rising political force in Tamil Nadu. However, this very portrayal raises two critical questions: Is the Dravidianist media genuinely enthusiastic about Vijay’s political entry, or is the ruling DMK unconcerned about TVK’s promotion because it serves their interests? Vijay’s political journey has been marked by striking ideological parallels to the DMK, prompting serious doubts about whether TVK is a genuine alternative or merely a strategic extension of the DMK, aimed at fragmenting the anti-DMK vote base considering the genuine rise of the BJP under the leadership of Annamalai and Naam Tamilar Party under the leadership of Seeman.

From mirroring DMK’s ideological framework to aligning with its minority appeasement tactics, Vijay’s party appears to be a shadow force, reinforcing the Dravidian party’s influence rather than challenging it. His selective political stances, scripted opposition to central government policies, and reluctance to confront the DMK on critical issues suggest a calculated move to consolidate votes that would otherwise go to genuine opposition parties.

Is Vijay’s entry into politics a fresh alternative, or is TVK just another cog in the DMK’s grand electoral strategy? Let’s break it down.

Copy-Paste Politics: Vijay’s TVK Mirrors DMK’s Ideology

A closer look at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s ideological stance reveals that his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has merely replicated the core principles of the DMK. From his very first press conference, Vijay described TVK’s ideology as centered around secular social justice and positioned the party as left-leaning with a Dravidian outlook. The fountain head of Hindu-hate and Dravidianist demagogue EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers) is the ideological head of both DMK and TVK.

Vijay too has emphasized that TVK would uphold values such as the two-language policy, social justice, secularism (read pseudo-secularism), socialism, the same that DMK keeps mouthing.

Vijay’s political rhetoric appears to be a direct copy-paste from DMK’s ideological blueprint, raising questions about whether TVK truly brings anything new to Tamil Nadu’s political landscape or if it’s merely a repackaged glossier version of the existing DMK.

If you believe that Vijay has merely copied DMK’s ideology and see nothing wrong with it, then you’re missing the bigger picture. Since the inception of his party, Vijay’s agenda has been to reinforce the DMK’s narrative, echoing its policies without hesitation—while paradoxically claiming that the DMK is his political opponent. But does Vijay truly consider the DMK his real political opponent? Let’s dissect his politics step by step and unravel the ‘new onion’ being put on display, starting with the most recent developments.

A Mirror Image Of DMK’s Minority Appeasement

Much like the DMK, Vijay seems to engage in minority appeasement, closely following the ruling party’s well-established tactics. From the moment he launched his party, TVK, his actions have subtly but unmistakably mirrored the DMK’s approach.

The Tilak Gimmick And Its Sudden Disappearance

Before his first official press conference, Vijay orchestrated a carefully crafted public appearance—a ‘meet and greet’ event where a woman applied a tilak on his forehead. This move was seemingly designed to project an image of religious inclusivity, subtly hinting that he embraced all faiths. Initially, his party letterhead even featured an image of him with the tilak. However, as time passed, all such Hindu symbolism vanished. His official portrait on the TVK letterhead was later replaced with a plain, tilak-free version of Vijay. This follows the DMK’s long-standing strategy of erasing Hindu identity from Tamil saints and historical figures, portraying them in neutral white robes while openly celebrating other religious symbols, such as the cross for Christianity or the kulla (skullcap) for Islam. This selective approach fosters minority appeasement while alienating the Hindu majority.

Muslim Appeasement: A Page From The DMK Playbook

Another notable pattern in Vijay’s political journey is his strategic milking on Muslim representation. Whether on stage at political events or during award functions, he consistently ensures the presence of burqa-clad Muslim women near him, reinforcing a visual appeal to the Muslim community. This tactic aligns with the DMK’s longstanding approach of courting the Muslim vote bank through targeted outreach.

Vijay further demonstrated this alignment when he actively participated in an Iftar event during Ramadan, donning a kulla, a white shirt, and a veshti—an unmistakable visual gesture of solidarity with the Muslim community. This move is a direct reflection of the DMK’s history of religious posturing to secure minority votes.

Here are some sample of the DMK’s signature approach to minority appeasement, particularly towards the Muslim community.

Christian Appeasement And Political Simping

Christian appeasement comes naturally to the DMK, with leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin openly identifying as Christian. Of course, he balances it with his signature doublespeak, claiming, “I’m a Hindu for those who see me as Hindu, a Muslim for those who see me as Muslim, and a Christian for those who see me as Christian.”

DMK Speaker Appavu even made controversial remarks crediting Tamil Nadu’s progress to Christians, claiming that without them, the state would have turned into Bihar. Vijay, a Christian himself, has followed this pattern seamlessly.

His religious identity became more politically evident in 2017 when he actively branded himself as “Joseph Vijay,” a move widely seen as an effort to consolidate Christian support. Taking it a step further, he appointed key Christian figures to crucial roles within his party, such as John Arokiasamy and Aadhav Arjuna (the son-in-law of controversial lottery businessman Martin).

The Vote Bank Strategy A Calculated Move

Census data in Tamil Nadu clearly indicates the size and influence of minority communities. Political parties that cater to these groups can often secure their unwavering support 15-20%, leading to a bloc vote with minimal fragmentation. The DMK has mastered this strategy over decades, and now Vijay appears to be following suit, carving out his own share of the minority vote while remaining firmly within the broader DMK ideological framework. The DMK, in turn, seems to tolerate Vijay’s rise, recognizing that even if he gains influence, he will never function as an anti-DMK force. Instead, he remains a mere shadow of the ruling party, reinforcing its political dominance rather than challenging it.

Vijay’s TVK Substituting DMK To Become TN’s New Anti-Development Force

If the question is whether Vijay is merely whether as the DMK in opposition mode, the answer is a clear yes. Vijay’s TVK, with its anti-progressive stance, is clearly adopting policies that mirror those of the DMK’s opposition era. His rhetoric, aimed at influencing the youth and parents, closely follows the same strategy employed by Dravidian ideologies for years. For instance, he opposes development projects like the proposed Parandur airport, champions an anti-NEET mindset, advocates for a two-language policy with a particular focus on opposing Hindi, and pushes for policies that disadvantage poor and marginalized students, particularly those in government schools. Additionally, his opposition to the National Education Policy, which seeks to establish a pan-India education standard, and his stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act echo similar opposition tactics used by the DMK in the past. The DMK, while in opposition, exploited these issues to rally the public by claiming the ability to secure people’s rights from the central government presenting a false dichotomy but after coming to power showed bare hands claiming that only the central government holds the power. Now, Vijay, the part-time, work-from-home politician, seems to be using the same strategy to manipulate public sentiment ultimately fooling the people with a similar political game.

In this backdrop, below are some of his political stunts that highlight his dual role — both as an opposition figure to the DMK and as a shadow of it, mirroring their strategies with the approach of “one punch in the coconut tree, one punch in the palm tree,” skillfully balancing his criticisms of both the central and state governments without upsetting either’s sentiments

Both Oppose Infrastructure Projects

Vijay, during his visit to Parandur, alleged that the proposed airport would destroy 90% of farmland and 13 water bodies, calling the project “anti-people.“ He also questioned why the DMK, which had opposed projects like the Salem eight-lane expressway and Kattupalli port, was supporting the Parandur airport. However, a closer look at the Airports Authority of India (AAI) pre-feasibility report and the Tamil Nadu government’s decision-making process reveals that Vijay’s statements are either misleading or based on incomplete information.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted a detailed study to identify the most suitable site for Chennai’s second airport, considering locations like Padalam, Thiruporur, Pannur, and Parandur. Parandur emerged as the best option due to factors such as airspace restrictions at other sites, availability of 5,369 acres of land, better connectivity through the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway, and fewer displacements compared to Pannur. Additionally, Parandur offers significant potential for future development, unlike the more densely developed Pannur site. Vijay’s claims about the project destroying 90% of farmland and 13 water bodies lack substantiation and overlook the thorough environmental and social impact analysis in the AAI report. Critics suggest that Vijay’s opposition to the project is driven by political motives, with his visit to the protest site viewed as a publicity stunt. Aviation experts argue that Parandur is the most feasible site for the airport, and relocating the project would cause delays and increased costs.

A similar approach was taken by the DMK in 2019 when it criticized the AIADMK government while in the opposition, but once it came to power, the party acknowledged the airport as a crucial need for the state’s economy.

Both Oppose NEET

During the executive committee meeting in Panaiyur on 3 November 2024, which was presided over by Vijay, a resolution was passed calling for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This comes despite data indicating that more underprivileged students, including those from tribal communities, have been able to secure medical seats through the exam in recent years.

Even the DMK, which had previously claimed to have the ‘Secret Weapon’ to make the central government to abolish NEET, switched its stance when Chief Minister MK Stalin admitted in a recent assembly speech that the central government holds the power to revoke NEET, contradicting earlier claims. TVK’s Vijay holds a similar stance on abolishing the exam, and it remains to be seen whether he will reverse his position like the DMK in the next NEET exam season.

Both Call For Abolition Of Governor Post

TVK’s resolutions on 3 November 2024 reiterated their stance on abolishing the Governor’s post. However, in the wake of the sexual harassment case at Anna University, which allegedly involved a DMK functionary, and widespread speculation that the DMK might protect the accused, TVK party chief Vijay sought the Governor’s intervention. It seems that Vijay has now come to recognize the importance of having a neutral figure above the government, capable of questioning the state’s actions when constitutional mechanisms fail. Previously, however, without fully understanding the role and significance of the office, he had called for the abolition of the Governor’s post, which was both impractical and unconstitutional. This stance has been a hallmark of the DMK since its inception, with the party’s founder C.N. Annadurai famously describing the position of Governor as “redundant as a goat’s beard.” This sentiment continues to this day, as evidenced in the 2024 Lok Sabha election manifesto, where the DMK again called for the abolition of the Governor’s post.

Similarly, in January 2024, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the current Deputy Chief Minister and scion of the DMK, led the party’s Youth Wing in passing a resolution calling for the abolition of the Governor’s post in Tamil Nadu. The resolution argued that the governor was attempting to run a parallel administration, undermining the authority of the state’s elected representatives. The resolution, passed at the 2nd DMK Youth Wing Meet, asserted that abolishing the position of Governor was essential to safeguard democracy.

Both Oppose Three-Language Policy

Vijay has strongly opposed the three-language policy, despite his own son, Jason Sanjay, studying at the American International School in Chennai, where languages like French, Spanish, and Korean are offered alongside English. In some IB schools, students also have the option to choose Hindi. The rationale behind the three-language policy is to provide marginalized students— even many of whom currently lack access to government schools—a chance to learn a third language. This would enable them to pursue careers as translators, communicators, and open doors to international job opportunities.

However, Vijay, along with other Dravidian leaders and the DMK, oppose marginalized students to venture beyond Tamil Nadu. They seem to believe these students should remain confined to the state, study locally, and take on menial jobs, ultimately serving as a political vote base through emotional appeals. The hypocrisy lies in the fact that this “two-language policy” exception doesn’t apply to Matriculation, CBSE, or international boards, which offer a wider array of language options. Yet, Vijay appears intent on following this same narrow-minded stance.

Even more surprisingly, just like DMK leaders and their allies who own CBSE schools that promote multilingual education, Vijay’s own CBSE school, Vijay Vidyashram, proudly boasts and celebrate Hindi—the very language they publicly oppose.

Both Depict Wrong Map of India

On 23 October 2024, the DMK’s NRI wing sparked controversy by sharing a post on the social media platform X that featured an inaccurate map of India, wrongly depicting parts of Jammu and Kashmir as belonging to Pakistan and China. After facing severe backlash, the post was later altered.

Following the DMK’s book keeping principle, at a book launch event titled “Ambedkar: A Leader for All,” held in Chennai on 6 December 2024, to commemorate Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s death anniversary, another similar controversy arose. Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay attended the event, where an incorrect map of India—this time omitting Aksai Chin—was deliberately displayed.

Both Opposed Central Govt On Other Matters

TVK chief Vijay has adopted a stance similar to that of the DMK, opposing any initiatives proposed by the central government. DMK chief and Chief Minister MK Stalin argued that the legislation posed a threat to “alter India’s polity forever.” Similarly, during the TVK party resolution, Vijay strongly opposed the “one nation, one election” proposal, criticizing it as an anti-democratic move by the BJP-led Union government.

In addition, TVK has mirrored the DMK’s tendency to pander to Islamist interests. The party has called for the withdrawal of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill amid reports of vast areas of land and entire villages being claimed by the Waqf Board.

Finally, in a recent development regarding the delimitation issue, DMK leader M.K. Stalin brought it into the spotlight on 25 February 2025, describing it as a “sword dangling over the southern states” following a state cabinet meeting. Shortly after, TVK chief Vijay stepped in to reinforce the DMK’s stance, penning a lengthy five-page letter opposing the imaginary upcoming delimitation process on 5 March 2025. However, a closer look reveals that his arguments are merely a recycled version of the DMK’s well-worn narratives.

Deliberate Neglecting Hindu Interest

Despite actor-turned-part-time politician, Vijay has shifted his stance from deliberately avoiding wishes for Hindu festivals while extending greetings for festivals of other religions. This pattern aligns with the DMK’s approach and was widely criticized. It was only after facing backlash that Vijay eventually acknowledged Saraswati Pooja. Notably, during his party’s first conference, he stated that while he follows E.V.R. Periyar’s principles, he does not adhere to atheism—an important aspect of his political trajectory.

His recent gestures to extend wishes for Hindu festivals on these auspicious occasions signal a positive step toward treating equally all faiths and moving beyond Dravidian narratives.

Previously, TVK chief Vijay faced significant backlash for skipping wishes for Hindu festivals and Tamil New Year in Tamil Nadu while extending greetings for Onam, a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala. This inconsistency did not go unnoticed, and he was criticized for hypocrisy, drawing parallels to the DMK’s approach.

Here is a list of political stunts he has engaged in since launching his new party, primarily consisting of online gestures that send indirect messages.

Not Wishing For Vinayakar Chaturthi

Vijay did not acknowledge or wish the people of the state for Vinayakar Chaturthi, a festival celebrated by 87.58% of the Hindu population. Kollywood actor and TVK chief Vijay appeared to be deliberately avoiding respecting the cultural values and beliefs of Hindus and Tamils. His selective social media posts on his official X account support this accusation. 

Not Wishing For Tamil New Year (Puthandu)

Instead of wishing for Tamil New Year which is a significant festival for Hindus in Tamil Nadu, Vijay chose to wish his fans and followers for Ambedkar Jayanti, which coincidentally falls on the same day. This is the same strategy employed by the DMK on the auspicious occasion of Hindu celebrations and festivals such as Vinayakar Chaturthi, Saraswathi Pooja, and other festive occasions. 

No Wishes For Krishna Jayanti

Vijay cautiously neglected even the Hindu festival of Krishna Jayanthi on 26 August 2024.

Wishing For Onam

Surprisingly, as if making a statement to reach out to his Malayali fans and followers, Vijay wished for the Onam festival.  It’s noteworthy that DMK (MK Stalin) also had wished for Onam last year. On 15 September 2024, TVK chief Vijay shared Onam wishes on his official X account, stating, “Happy #Onam from the bottom of my heart to all Malayalam relatives! A hearty Onam to my very own Malayali friends.”

Wishing For Christian, Muslim Festivals & Other Special Days

He has acknowledged and wished for Muslim festivals like Ramzan and Eid, Christian festivals like Easter, as well as neutral days such as May 1 (Labour Day), Ambedkar Jayanti, Independence Day, and Mother’s Day.

Conclusion

From the above, one could infer that Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) appears to be less of a genuine political alternative and more of a tactical extension of the DMK, closely aligning with its ideological stance and strategies. His selective opposition, stance on key issues, and apparent minority appeasement suggest that TVK is reinforcing the Dravidianist narrative rather than challenging it. By mimicking the DMK’s policies and rhetoric while maintaining a strategic distance, Vijay’s political entry raises questions about whether he genuinely seeks to challenge the ruling party or merely act as a tool to fragment the anti-DMK vote base. Ultimately, TVK’s rise seems to serve the interests of the DMK more than it threatens them, potentially eroding the vote share of other opposition parties while ensuring a split in anti-DMK votes without significantly harming the ruling party and its allies.

What Kamal Haasan was in 2021, Vijay is for 2026—a carefully crafted DMK’s political project. Kamal too claimed himself to be an alternative to both DMK and AIADMK. He too vociferously opposed the DMK like Vijay does today and even broke televisions with his torch light. But Kamal ultimately found himself at the gates of Arivalayam, reduced to a lickspittle of the DMK. Vijay, too, is treading the same path, set to become yet another pawn in the DMK’s grand scheme.

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