Salem (Tamil Nadu), Feb 13 TVK chief Vijay on Friday claimed that his party, operating independently, has become the primary force in Tamil Nadu within two years of its founding, and its support base among the people has exceeded 30 percent.
He asserted that he would demonstrate that good governance is possible for those who care about the people. Vijay challenged leaders in rival parties to form their own parties and secure at least 1 percent of the votes.
Addressing a rally here, he said the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) was not formed to eliminate any party, nor did he have any personal animosity towards anyone. "We entered politics to repay our debt of gratitude to the people; we are not here for political gain," the actor-politician said.
Rivals who label TVK as a "B-Team" of some party are merely trying to hide their own shortcomings. To those who target TVK as inexperienced, he asked, "Besides exploiting people's money, do they have any other extraordinary experience?"
"The only requirement for good governance is 'a genuine love for the people'," he said. "With this quality, we can provide truly excellent governance."
He asserted: "To achieve good governance, one does not necessarily need to be highly educated. Like Kamarajar (former CM, iconic Congress leader, renowned freedom fighter) and MGR, with the support of the people and with the help of good officers who care for the people, I can provide excellent governance. I will do it."
Throwing a challenge to leaders in well-established parties, he asked if they had the courage and strength to start their own parties and demonstrate that they could secure at least 1 percent of the votes.
Claiming that both the DMK and AIADMK are solely dependent on alliance parties, he further said that his party, operating independently, has become the primary force in Tamil Nadu in two years, surpassing the Dravidian majors.
The TVK's support base among the people has surpassed "30 percent," and is it correct to say that such a party lacks experience, he asked, adding, "We certainly do not have experience in exploiting people, and we will never do so."
The experience of the DMK and AIADMK lies in forgetting party founders CN Annadurai and MG Ramachandran, respectively, and their principles. Regarding the AIADMK, it has also forgotten J Jayalalithaa, who nurtured the party and her vision.
Again, he criticized both the AIADMK and DMK, alleging that TVK lacks the experience of simply having an ideology, and later "surrendering" to rivals.
It has been more than four and a half years since the DMK formed the government. He said: "Now, they (DMK) are knocking on every door, asking the people what their dreams are, and they will fulfill them. This is a question to Stalin on behalf of the people. Do you know what the people's dreams are, sir? May I tell you?"
He answered that the people's dream is to remove the DMK from power and establish the TVK government. People voted for the DMK in 2019 (Lok Sabha polls), 2021 (Assembly election), and 2024 (LS) polls believing that they would do something good for them. But the DMK has provided the people with an anti-people government, and there is no safety for the people under its rule.
"The people's only dream is that this anti-people DMK government should not continue. The 100 percent pure power TVK will form the government. In the TVK regime, all your dreams will be fulfilled."
Ridiculing Stalin for his often-repeated comment that "Tamil Nadu is always under Delhi's control," Vijay said he would like to list the things that are outside Stalin's control. He alleged: "First of all, law and order is out of control. In women's safety, it is out of control. In employment for young people, it is out of control. Overall, his regime/rule itself is out of control."
He asked why various sections of society, including fishermen, farmers, nurses, teachers, and sanitation and anganwadi workers were staging protests if people are happy. He said: "As far as I know, if people are happy, they celebrate by cooking Pongal. I think people are expressing their happiness by protesting under your (Stalin's) rule."
He listed several "basic problems", including civic issues, and wondered why there was a ruling party in the first place if so many basic issues remained unaddressed.
Accusing the CM of lying and misleading people before coming to power, and now, when "leaving power," the TVK chief said, "You (CM) are on a different level when it comes to speaking contradictory things, sir."
Vijay said the CM had been making contradictory statements on fulfilling electoral promises, ranging from 70 percent in 2022 to 90 percent in 2025, with 80 percent this year. The claim was about 30 to 20 percent as the election draws closer. The TVK chief blamed the CM for his "blatant, outrageous lies."
