Tamil Nadu: TVK's Vijay pays homage to social reformers day after election win; garlands statues of Periyar, BR Ambedkar
Chennai, May 5
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief and actor-politician Vijay continued his political outreach on Tuesday by visiting prominent memorials of social reformers in Tamil Nadu, a day after securing a near majority in the state assembly.
Vijay paid homage by garlanding the statues of social reformer Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, paying his respects as part of his ongoing public engagements.
The gesture is being viewed in political circles as an attempt to align with the Dravidian and social justice ideological space.
Meanwhile, reactions continued to emerge on social media following speculation around the political landscape in the state. In this context, actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan reportedly shared a post on X, stating that electoral outcomes are only one part of democratic politics.
In the post on X, Kamal Haasan referred to Stalin as someone who "is not one to exult in victory or wilt in defeat" and suggested that he "will fight again" and "win again."
"In democratic politics, elections are but one part. My dear friend, the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Mr. @mkstalin, is not one to exult in victory. Nor is he one to wilt in defeat. He will fight again. He will win again," he posted on X.
Earlier today, Actor-politician Vijay and the chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) arrived at the party headquarters in the state capital Chennai.
Several senior TVK politicians, including General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna and others, also arrived at the party headquarters in Panaiyur.
TVK, a new entrant into the state politics, won 108 seats in the 234-seat Tamil Nadu assembly, but, however, falling 10 short of the 118 halfway majority mark the party will need support from other parties to form the new government in the State.
Vijay will hold a crucial meeting with the winning candidates today and decide on the next steps.
Security outside Vijay's residence in Nilankarai, as well as the party headquarters in Panaiyur in the city has been heightened. Huge crowds of supporters gathered to greet him as he arrived.
Meanwhile, a TVK supporter expressed happiness over the party's performance, calling the development a "much-needed" change.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Vijay saar doing the right thing! 🙏 As a fan since his Thalaiva days, it's wonderful to see him embracing our Dravidian roots. Finally, someone who understands Tamil Nadu's soul. Let's hope he forms a stable government and gives us real change, not just cinema dialogue.
Kamal Haasan's message is mature - he's acknowledging Stalin's resilience. But really, this election shows Tamil Nadu is tired of old dynastic politics. 108 seats for a new party is no joke! Still, I'm skeptical about celebrities-turned-politicians. Let's not replace one hero worship with another.
Finally! 👏 Someone paying respects to the real architects of our social fabric - Periyar and Ambedkar. Vijay's gesture is a breath of fresh air after decades of the same old Dravidian parties. But I worry - will TVK actually implement social justice policies or just use it for votes? Time will tell.
Vijay garlanding Ambedkar is good optics, but let's not romanticize this. Periyar and Ambedkar were revolutionary thinkers who challenged every form of hierarchy. Does TVK have the intellectual depth to continue that legacy? 108 seats is impressive, but coalition politics will test their ideological purity.
The energy in Chennai today is electric! I was near Vijay's residence and the crowd was incredible. This is more than a protest vote - people genuinely want change. But I hope TVK focuses on real issues like education, healthcare, and women's safety, not just photo ops with statues. 🤞