Vellore (Tamil Nadu), Feb 23 In a fresh attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, TVK founder Vijay on Monday alleged that the DMK president's real friends are "bribery and corruption," and termed the upcoming Assembly election as "a battle between Vijay and Stalin."
He reiterated his stance that TVK is a "pure force" and accused the DMK again of being an "evil force."
Addressing a meeting of party functionaries here, Vijay described the Assembly polls due in April this year as a "surprising election."
He claimed that all parties in the state had teamed up against him, and reiterated that despite this scenario, the contest was only between the DMK and TVK. He said parties opposed him because he opposed corruption and bribery, and that this angered the DMK.
Challenging rivals to declare their assets, Vijay asked: "At this juncture, I would like to ask the present-day's very big politicians: What were your assets before you entered politics? What are your assets after joining politics? Can it be openly declared?"
He further demanded to know their source of wealth, whether it came from business or work, or if it was "stolen" after assuming power. He said that all corrupt elements would gang up to defend themselves, and that they would "defame us, but we are not concerned."
He alleged that Stalin's "real friends are bribery, corruption, and the pursuit of political gains," and accused him of making false promises to the people. He also challenged the ruling party's claim that Tamil Nadu had become a "superstar state."
The CM and the ruling party had often said that the state had experienced double-digit economic growth of 11.19 per cent (2024-25) under DMK rule.
Criticizing the DMK's campaign of pitting Tamil Nadu against Delhi (the NDA), Vijay said that the real battle was between the state's people and corruption (and by extension, the DMK), and that the Stalin-led government was "inept."
He said that the Assembly election is "a battle between Vijay and Stalin."
Rejecting the DMK's claim that Tamil Nadu had become a "superstar state," Vijay, the chief of the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), said that the state had been "exceptionally" good during the times of iconic leaders K Kamaraj, CN Annadurai, and M G Ramachandran.
He dubbed the DMK regime as a "useless" model government, and alleged that Tamil Nadu has become a state run by "super-stand-up comedians." Vijay, targeting the CM again, said that he was not concerned about his personal life.
"Do what you want to do. But your governance is flawed and not suitable for Tamil Nadu," he alleged. Referring to Stalin's statement that he had no political enemies and that everyone was his friend, Vijay asked, "Then why blame me for the Karur stampede?"
He further asked: "Why refuse to allow TVK (rallies and events) if we are friends? You did everything and blamed us for the Karur tragedy."
Praising the people for their clarity, he said that he would visit every village and meet the people personally once TVK won the 2026 Assembly election.
He also took a swipe at the DMK forming alliances, claiming that Stalin was accommodating everyone in the party-led bloc.
Vijay, who arrived to a rousing reception by party workers at Agaramcheri village near the Pallikonda toll plaza on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway in this district, administered a pledge to the TVK members.
"No one can buy us; our vote is for (party symbol) whistle. We won't believe anyone and be deceived. We won't deviate from our words. This is the truth," Vijay said and asked his party workers to repeat after him.
The actor-politician claimed that Vijay represented Tamil Nadu, and that if he was insulted, it meant disparaging the people and actions against him were actually aimed at the public.
He said that he and the people were one and the same, just like blood and flesh. "This is a sensitive sentiment," he declared amid cheers from the crowd, and asked, "Do you need Vijay and believe Vijay who loves the people, or Stalin sir who runs an anti-people regime?"
Positioning himself as a "whistleblower" for Tamil Nadu, Vijay targeted the DMK on its "unfulfilled" electoral assurances, and alleged deterioration in law and order.
He gave a string of assurances if voted to power, including top-notch education and good restrooms for girl children in state-run schools. Quoting Dravidian icon Annadurai, Vijay reiterated that TVK's stand was secularism and social justice.
He continued to wear his trademark white shirt and a sandal-like mild coloured trouser, while sporting his usual stubble.