TVK conference HIGHLIGHTS | Vijay declares war against BJP, DMK at party's first public meet

Here are highlights from Vijay led TVK's state conference. Swipe to read.

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For Periyar-Ambedkar-Kamaraj and against BJP, DMK: How Vijay defined TVK’s politics

Positioning the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as the alternative force in Tamil Nadu politics, Vijay in his speech at the party’s first State conference on Sunday referred to the BJP as its ideological enemy and the DMK as its political adversary.

Declaring war against the BJP and the DMK, Vijay said, "There is a group that has been creating divisions among the society. The ones who are creating divisions are our first enemy. The ones who are claiming Dravidian ideology but are looting Tamil Nadu as a family are our next rivals," he said in an indirect reference to the two parties ruling the Centre and Tamil Nadu.

The actor-politician announced that the TVK would contest all 234 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, declaring there would be no retreat or rethinking. “At any cost, there will be no compromise in our political battle. Till our goal is reached, we will burn like fire.”

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TVK conference: Photos from the ground

DMK, allies send out cautious yet mixed reactions to Vijay’s speech at TVK conference

DMK and its allies were cautious in their response to actor and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay's speech at his party's maiden conference attacking communal politics and accusing the ruling DMK government of corruption, without naming the party.

DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi said that DMK is like a banyan tree, in response to Vijay’s talk. "There is a Tamil saying that the tree that bears fruit will be stoned. So we can withstand anyone pelting stones on us," he said responding to the question on Vijay's veiled criticism of DMK.

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Debutant Vijay pulls no punches

For social justice and rationalism, caste survey and reservation, and welfarism. Against communalism, corruption, and dynastic politics. Eight months after he announced the formation of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, actor-politician Vijay positioned his nascent outfit as an ideological mix of popular politics in Tamil Nadu, ticking the right boxes in both for and against columns.

In his first public speech as a politician at the TVK’s maiden State public conference in Villupuram on Sunday, Vijay also identified the rivals whom his party would fight.

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The first TVK state conference has come to an end.

Decent approach, decent attack, that is TVK's politics: Vijay

Whether it is our ideological enemy or our political enemy, we will fight decently: Vijay;

"Some say this Vijay doesn't take anyone's name, that he is scared. I am not taking names not because I am scared. But only because I am not here to throw dirt on anyone. That's not our politics - ours is decent approach, decent attack, but we will go deep with our work," the TVK chief emphasised.

A confident Vijay went on to say, "We will come to power with our own majority. Now a nuclear bomb: we will share power with those who come with us. A new year, a new political field awaits us," he said while signing off his speech.

Caste census is needed: Vijay

Vijay urged for a caste census to ensure proportional representation, social justice and equality

"The highlights of TVK's action plan: protection for children, women and elders; equitable education, and all basic facilities; proportional representation, for which caste census is necessary," he said.

'Koothadi' is not a slur or an insult: Vijay

Those who called actors who turned politicians like me as 'koothadis' (derogatory word) forget that koothu is an inherent part of Tamil culture and pride: Vijay;

"I am not the only one who was called 'koothadi'. Even MGR and NTR were called that...Film is not just dance and songs. It is a tool for social change. Isn't that how the DMK itself grew?...

"'Koothadi' is not a slur or an insult. Koothu will speak values, politics, truth... nobody will understand the sadness and anger that is inside a 'koothadi'/artiste," said Vijay, adding that he is also a 'koothadi' who has come to the top through sheer effort and toil.

"The public connects with 'Koothadi' because he is one of them...When I came to the field, they insulted me about my looks, my colour, my hair...But I persisted. I didn't give up. That is how I came up...At every stage, we undergo transformation. From an average boy to an actor to a responsible adult to a socially conscious man to a political cadre. Tomorrow? It is not my call, it is that of the people," he said.

"I am not worried because the results of my hard work is in the tips of your finger. At the peak of my career, I am taking this risk because I trust in people," the TVK chief emphasised.

Shelter, food and security are TVK's main aims: Vijay

"Don't worry, your son, brother, friend, this friend has come to the field. Shelter, food and security - those are our political aims," Vijay told the crowd.