‘TVK will win even without friends’: Vijay’s remarks spark solo-run speculation ahead of TN polls

TVK's Vijay

• Vijay says TVK may contest Tamil Nadu polls without major alliances
• TVK unveils whistle symbol, vows not to compromise on ideology
• TVK claims sleeper cell support in DMK, AIADMK, and VCK

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Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) may contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections without tying up with any major alliance, after party founder and president Vijay signalled confidence in the party’s ability to win on its own.

Addressing a state and district-level consultative meeting of TVK functionaries in Mahabalipuram on Sunday, the actor-turned-politician said his party would not dilute its political principles for the sake of alliances. “This force of TVK will win even if no friendship force (alliance) is with us,” Vijay said, in remarks that fuelled speculation about a solo electoral debut.

Vijay also launched a sharp attack on the state’s two dominant Dravidian parties, accusing both the AIADMK and the DMK of having “surrendered” to the BJP, directly and indirectly. “We do not bow down to any pressure. Does this face look like it would succumb to pressure?” he asked party workers.

Reflecting on his political journey, Vijay said established parties had underestimated him for three decades, but public support had brought him to what he described as the peak of his career. He urged party members to remain united and disciplined, stressing that TVK would not compromise its ideology “for anything or anyone”.

He further accused the DMK of abandoning the ideals of its founder CN Annadurai, claiming that “Anna has been forgotten by the party he founded”. Calling the DMK an “evil force”, Vijay warned supporters that the ruling party would continue to exploit the people of Tamil Nadu unless challenged decisively.

In a symbolic moment, Vijay unveiled TVK’s party symbol, the whistle, blowing it on stage and invoking a popular dialogue from his 2019 film Bigil to energise party cadres.

Adding to the charged political atmosphere, TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjun claimed that the party has “sleeper cells” within the DMK, AIADMK and even the VCK. He asserted that Vijay already enjoys support from members across parties and predicted that the TVK leader would become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

TVK is set to make its electoral debut in the forthcoming Assembly polls, with the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK already stepping up preparations. The Election Commission of India has not yet announced the official schedule for the elections, expected in the first half of the year.

*With ANI inputs