Actor-Politician Thalapathy Vijay’s Party Labelled ‘Copyist’ by DMK, AIADMK in Fiery Exchanges

The DMK, Tamil Nadu's governing party, has criticized Vijay's Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam for lacking originality in its political ideology. DMK leader TKS Elangovan pointed out that Vijay's newly announced political stance seems to mirror the policies and statements previously established and followed by the DMK. This accusation of imitation was underscored during Vijay's first public address, where he not only criticized the DMK and its leadership but also outlined his party's dedication to various social justice and empowerment ideologies, reminiscent of Dravidian icon Periyar and other historical figures.

Elangovan dismissed the significance of Vijay's entry into the political arena, suggesting that the DMK, with its extensive history and experience, views the emergence of new parties as a common occurrence. He highlighted the DMK's commitment to public issues and its robust ideological foundation, contrasting it with Vijay's party's ambitions to gain power shortly after its inception. According to Elangovan, the DMK's leaders have historically demonstrated their commitment through actions, such as enduring imprisonment for their causes, a level of dedication he implies Vijay's party lacks.

In his speech, Vijay targeted the DMK's leadership, accusing them of corruption and deceit under the guise of promoting the Dravidian model. He specifically accused the family of MK Stalin of engaging in underhand dealings to loot the state. Additionally, Vijay delineated his party's ideological influences, including Periyar, Kamaraj, NR Ambedkar, Velu Nachiar, and Anjalai Ammal, while making a notable exception for Periyar's atheistic stance to maintain a respect for individual faiths.

The AIADMK, Tamil Nadu's main opposition party, also weighed in on Vijay's political debut. Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan acknowledged Vijay's venture into politics but cautioned him on the challenges ahead. Sathyan critiqued the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam's ideology as a derivative mix from the ideologies of existing Tamil Nadu political entities, suggesting it lacks originality and is merely old ideas presented in a new format.