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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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
