In Tamil Nadu, TVK founder Vijay appealed to voters to give him a chance to lead the state, calling the upcoming elections an "emotional" event.
He criticized the DMK and Chief Minister M K Stalin, stating that their claim of forming the government for a second consecutive term would not materialize, even as late party leader M Karunanidhi could not achieve this.
Addressing a party gathering, Vijay urged Tamil Nadu's people to support TVK in the upcoming elections.
"For us and those who support me, these elections are more than just a political event; they are an emotional one," Vijay said about the upcoming assembly elections.
On Wednesday, alongside his signature white shirt and brown pants, Vijay was seen wearing a green towel, symbolizing the agricultural context of this Cauvery Delta region, often referred to as Tamil Nadu's "rice bowl." Farmers traditionally wear this green towel.
He further stated that the TVK's election symbol, "whistle," should resonate in every house and polling booth across Tamil Nadu, ensuring a resounding victory for the party.
He also mentioned that the slogan "whistle podu," from his 2024 movie GOAT, is also a popular slogan used by the CSK franchise.
Vijay criticized the ruling DMK, branding it as "theeya sakthi," (evil force), saying even children are using this term.
He also criticized the DMK's handling of sand mining, referring to the Madras High Court ruling ordering an investigation by the CBI into the nexus between politicians, government officials, and private miners in the mining of beach sand minerals, and questioned whether Stalin would deny this.
Regarding the farmer's issue, Vijay said that despite claiming to come from the Cauvery Delta region, Chief Minister Stalin has cases against farmers for protesting against projects such as the Parandur airport expansion near Chennai. He sympathized with the farmers and took up their cause, as the airport expansion project affected their livelihoods.
"The DMK's plan is to lay the foundation stones for major projects at the end of its rule and then claim that it could not implement them because the party was defeated," Vijay claimed.
"If he (CM) had concern for the people, then he should have started these schemes immediately after he came to power. People are not fools to believe whatever the Chief Minister says," Vijay said, also accusing Stalin of doing little to protect Tamil Nadu's fishermen from attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Stalin aimed to return to power, but history suggests otherwise. "This is bigger than the Great Wall of China; even his father (Karunanidhi) could not succeed in winning a second term," the actor said.
He claimed that politics is not about "collection," but about serving the people, and that this service motive motivated him to enter politics. He accused the DMK and the opposition AIADMK of allegedly entering into a tacit agreement to hinder his political growth.
While one enforced strict protocols and conditions in the wake of the Karur stampede (fatal stampede at TVK rally), the other criticized him.
"They hope to come to power in the state alternatively. This started with Karur and the release of the Jana Nayagan film. And I thank those who supported me for the film release," the TVK founder said. He also thanked Stalin for voicing his support, although not so assertively.
He strongly criticized the DMK's move to install a bronze idol for Karunanidhi in the southern district of Tirunelveli, saying this was akin to using people's "ghee to make sweets."
"Stalin sir, first focus on feeding the people, and then think about the statue. The DMK rule is not model governance, but a corrupt regime. Do you want this corrupt rule to continue or Vijay to form the government? Do you want Vijay or anti-people Stalin rule?" he asked at the meeting, and the party supporters loudly replied "Vijay."
Vijay countered Stalin's claims of protecting and sustaining Tamil Nadu, saying that while Stalin criticized Delhi in Chennai, he showed a white flag after "raids."
Finally, Vijay announced a series of poll promises for farmers, including waiving off loans for farmers with five acres of land and covering their children's education expenses. He also promised to ensure fishermen's safety and to implement transparent and corruption-free governance.
