Actor and political leader Vijay launched a blistering offensive against Tamil Nadu's ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Thursday, branding it a "theeya sakthi" or evil force. He positioned his own party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), as the contrasting "thooya sakthi" or pure force, framing the upcoming political battle in the state as a clash between these two entities.
Invoking AIADMK Legacy in Scathing Critique
Addressing a public meeting in Erode, Vijay resurrected a phrase famously used by late AIADMK stalwarts M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and J. Jayalalithaa to criticise their long-time rival. "They often described DMK as a 'theeya sakthi'. My TVK is a 'thooya sakthi'. The contest is now between the thooya sakthi TVK and theeya sakthi DMK," he declared, in an apparent reference to the 2026 Assembly elections.
This rally marked his first significant public outreach in Tamil Nadu since the tragic September 27 Karur rally where a stampede resulted in the deaths of 41 persons. Following that incident, he had convened a closed-door meeting in Kancheepuram and addressed a gathering in Puducherry.
Counter-Allegations and Political Recruitment
Vijay defended his invocation of late leaders like MGR and C.N. Annadurai, stating they were an inspiration for all and not anyone's individual property. He also alleged that a smear campaign was being orchestrated against him by vested interests. Turning his criticism to governance, he slammed the DMK dispensation on law and order and agricultural issues.
Highlighting recent inductions, he pointed to former AIADMK minister and local strongman K.A. Sengottaiyan joining TVK in late November 2025 after being dismissed from the AIADMK. Vijay promised that more leaders would follow and receive due recognition within the party.
DMK's Sharp Rebuttal and Rally Incident
The DMK swiftly countered Vijay's accusations. Former Rajya Sabha MP TKS Elangovan delivered a pointed retort, indirectly referencing the Karur tragedy. "A person claiming to be a leader... made people wait in the scorching sun without water or food, and only arrived at 7:30, by which time 41 people had died. He is a killer force, not a genuine force," Elangovan stated.
He contrasted this by praising Chief Minister M.K. Stalin as a "performing" leader whose policies are observed nationwide, even influencing campaigns in states like Bihar.
During the Erode rally itself, a minor incident occurred when a TVK supporter fell unconscious and had to be rushed to a hospital via ambulance. The meeting gained added political significance due to the recent induction of senior leader Sengottaiyan, underscoring TVK's efforts to consolidate its base ahead of the next electoral showdown.
