DMK says actor Vijay led party's principles 'copy,' AIADMK says 'old wine in new bottle'
Chennai, Oct 28: Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK has said that actor-politician Vijay helmed Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam copied its ideology while main opposition AIADMK said TVK's principles are a cocktail of current political standpoints of various parties and Naam Tamizhar Katchi has ruled out chances of joining forces with the new entrant.
While Vijay openly targeted the DMK and its first family in his debut public appearance for his party's inaugural event on Sunday, DMK said it has seen many rivals in its long innings and will continue to be strong.
Asked on TVK's ideological points, its hint at opposition to the office of Governor, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, "these are all our policies, he is copying...whatever he says is what we had already said and which we are following."
On the maiden conference of Vijay's party, he told PTI Videos: "This is the first conference and let us see, we have seen many parties." Outlining his party's strong ideological moorings and work over a long period of time in its 75-year old journey, Elangovan said DMK leaders went to jail fighting for people's cause and though the party had lost several elections, it continued to be strong.
The DMK was built thus, fighting for people's issues, whereas Vijay's party aspires to be in power in 2026, immediately after entering politics. Furthermore, he said the TVK leaders would not fight for people by going to jail like the DMK leaders. "That is the difference between DMK and other parties...we are strong, we work for the people, we are for the people."
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan congratulated Vijay on entering politics and said he has a long way to go and deliver. TVK's ideology "is a mix of ideology of all parties and old wine in new bottle...a cocktail ideology taken from all political parties in Tamil Nadu." To a question on the actor-politician backing caste census, he said the TVK chief has spoken on several topics and, "we will give time to him to put this in action."
Asserting that ideologically BJP is nationalist and its votebank will not be affected, BJP leader H Raja said Vijay's party may split only the votes of Dravidian parties and the DMK could be weakened. "I hope Mr Vijay would help me by speaking on Dravidian stock (ideology) and divide those votes," he told reporters. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan greeted TVK on its debut conference and said that the party is pitted against 'Udhaya,' apparently hinting at DMK leader and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Nam Tamizhar Katchi top leader Seeman, a Tamil nationalist said "you (TVK) accept EVR Periyar and thereby Dravidam (Dravidian ideology) and they say Dravidian model (DMK's tagline for its style of governance)." However, NTK rejects the Dravidian ideology. "What is this model for Tamil Nadu", he demanded to know.
When reporters asked him if TVK's open invitation to alliances and a share in power to electoral partners could be regarded as invite to his party as well, Seeman said it was not so and added that NTK's political journey is based on its crystal clear ideology and it cannot be dependent on others.
"I have said that I will fight on my own," he said and hinted that Vijay party's ideology does not appear to be carefully considered. TVK says it accepts Periyar's rationalism but not his atheism. "Atheism is a part of rationalism."
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SC upholds inclusion of ‘secular, socialist’ in Preamble of Constitution
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the inclusion of the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution, confirming their retrospective application from November 26, 1949. The court ruled that the power to amend the Constitution under Article 368 extends to the Preamble, which is an integral part of the document.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna stated, “The power under Article 368 cannot be curtailed. It will equally apply to the Preamble.” The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced these terms in 1976 during the Emergency, was challenged on grounds of its retrospective application and the lack of states’ ratification.
The petitioners, including BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, argued that the amendment forced a particular economic theory on the nation and violated the original intent of the Constitution. Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended that the Preamble reflects the will of the people at the time of adoption in 1949 and is therefore unalterable.
The court dismissed these objections, affirming that both socialism and secularism are part of the Constitution's Basic Structure. The Bench clarified that socialism refers to a welfare state ensuring equality of opportunity without negating private sector participation or individualism. It emphasised that secularism is embedded in the Constitution, particularly in the principles of equality and fraternity.
Chief Justice Khanna remarked, “Secularism has always been a core feature of the Constitution.” He added that the amendment did not impose socialism as dogma but aligned with the welfare goals enshrined in various constitutional provisions.
