"Victory dedicated to Karur incident": TVK's Aadhav Arjuna hails election trends
Chennai, May 4
As Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is poised to become the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, party leader Aadhav Arjuna on Monday said that the victory is dedicated to the tragic Karur incident.
He referred to a crowd stampede that occurred during the public outreach programme of TVK chief Vijay in Karur last year on September 27, resulting in the deaths of 41 people.
Setting a combative note, Arjuna, who is also TVK's general secretary of campaign management, described DMK as a party that uses "cash-for-votes", stating that the MK Stalin government was "thrown out" by the people of Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "We dedicate this victory to the Karur incident. The practice of cash-for-votes has been eliminated. The people of Tamil Nadu have delivered their verdict. DMK has been thrown out by the people."
His remarks come as TVK debuted in style and has been leading in early trends since the morning. One of their biggest victory is winning over the Chief Minister MK Stalin in the Kolathur constituency.
This defeat marks the first time the DMK leader will not represent the seat in the Assembly, signalling a major shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.
As of 6:30 PM, the ECI's data indicate a massive surge for the newcomer party, with TVK dominating the trends by securing 33 wins and leading in 75 seats. Incumbent DMK trails in a difficult second position with 14 wins and 47 leads, while the AIADMK alliance follows with 12 wins and 32 leads. Congress has managed 1 victory with 4 leads, marking a dramatic, high-stakes fight.
The results have also shattered long-held notions about actors struggling to succeed in politics, as Vijay now joins the league of iconic actor-turned-leaders like NT Rama Rao, MG Ramachandran, and J Jayalalithaa.
His performance reinforces that his cinematic popularity has translated into a deep emotional connection with the masses, reflected clearly in the public mandate.
TVK's victory could also mark a historic shift, as Tamil Nadu may witness its first government outside the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) dominance since June 1977.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a Tamilian, I'm cautiously optimistic. Yes, change was needed, but let's not forget that movie star popularity doesn't always translate to good governance. Remember what happened with some other actor-politicians? I hope Vijay proves me wrong and focuses on real issues like education and infrastructure.
Interesting turn of events. From a US perspective, it's fascinating to see how celebrity power translates so differently in Indian politics. Trump was a businessman/some TV, but here Vijay is pure cinema! The emotional connection with fans is incredible.
Cash-for-votes allegation is serious! If DMK was genuinely involved in such practices, good riddance. But let's also question TVK - where did all their election funding come from? Celebrity wealth or something more? Need transparency in all parties. 🤔
Living in Chennai, I can tell you the mood on the streets is electric. People are tired of the same old faces. Vijay's rallies drew massive crowds because he spoke about jobs, water, and corruption. The Karur tragedy was the last straw. Now we wait and watch if he delivers. #TamilNaduWantsChange
This is huge! MK Stalin losing his own seat is unheard of. DMK has ruled for decades, and now a debut party is sweeping. Reminds me of when Aam Aadmi Party burst onto the scene in Delhi. Indian democracy is truly vibrant. 🗳️
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