Vellore (Tamil Nadu), February 23 Launching another scathing attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, TVK founder Vijay on Monday alleged that the DMK president's "real friends are bribe, corruption, and the pursuit of political gains."
Addressing a meeting of party functionaries here, Vijay termed the Assembly elections due in April this year as a "surprising election" as all parties in the state are allegedly united against him and reiterated that the contest was solely between the DMK and TVK.
Challenging rivals to declare their assets, the TVK leader asked: "At this juncture, I would like to pose a serious question to today's prominent politicians. What were your assets before you entered politics? What are your assets after joining politics? Can this be openly declared? Furthermore, he also sought to determine the source of their wealth – whether it came from business/work or was "acquired" after assuming power.
He alleged that Stalin's "real friends are bribe, corruption, and the pursuit of political gains," and accused him of making false promises to the people, and sought to refute the ruling party's claim of having transformed Tamil Nadu into a "superstar state."
The CM and the ruling party have often stated that the state registered double-digit economic growth of 11.19 per cent (2024-25) under DMK rule.
Criticizing the DMK's narrative of the elections as a fight between "Tamil Nadu and Delhi – NDA," he said the real battle was between the state's people and corruption – by extension, the DMK – and alleged that the DMK government was "inept."
The Assembly elections are "a war between Vijay and Stalin," he said, reiterating his stance that TVK is a "pure force" and accusing the DMK again as an "evil force."
Rejecting the DMK's claim of having developed Tamil Nadu into a "superstar state," Vijay, the chief of the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), said that the state was "truly excellent" during the times of iconic leaders K Kamaraj, CN Annadurai, and M G Ramachandran.
Dubbing the DMK regime as a "good-for-nothing, manipulative government," he alleged that the state has been transformed into a state run by a super-stand-up comedian.
The TVK chief, targeting the CM again, said that he was not concerned about his personal life.
"Be what you want to be. But your governance is flawed and not required for Tamil Nadu," he alleged.
The actor-politician claimed that Tamil Nadu meant Vijay and that he represented the entire state.
Referring to Stalin's statement that he had no foes in politics and that all were his friends, Vijay asked, "then why blame me for the Karur stampede," referring to the tragedy during a TVK rally that killed 41 persons and injured many.
Further, he asked: "Why refuse venue and permission for 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 personally meet the people once TVK formed the government following a huge win in the 2026 Assembly election.
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 get deceived. We won't deviate from our words. This is the truth," Vijay said and asked his party workers to repeat after him.
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.