Erode

Actor-politician Vijay on Thursday launched a strong attack on Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, calling it an “evil force,” a term once used by late AIADMK leaders M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. Speaking at a public meeting here, he described his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as a “pure force,” framing the 2026 electoral contest as a battle between the two parties.

This marked Vijay’s first public outreach in Tamil Nadu after the tragic Karur rally on September 27, where a stampede claimed 41 lives. Since then, he had addressed a closed-door meeting in Kancheepuram and a rally in nearby Puducherry.

Vijay referred to late Chief Ministers MGR and Jayalalithaa, saying they often described DMK as “theeya sakthi” (evil force). “The contest is now between the thooya sakthi TVK and theeya sakthi DMK,” he asserted, hinting at the upcoming assembly elections. He also alleged a smear campaign against him by vested interests and defended his use of references to the late CMs, stating their legacy belongs to everyone.

Vijay criticized the DMK government on law and order and agricultural issues. He also highlighted party expansion, noting that local leaders, such as former AIADMK strongman K A Sengottaiyan who recently joined TVK, would be welcomed and given recognition.

With these remarks, Vijay signaled the start of an aggressive campaign ahead of the 2026 polls, positioning TVK as a major challenger to DMK and rallying support by invoking the legacy of past AIADMK leaders.