Chennai: Many actors and celebrities have began their very own political events however failed to keep up their individuality, however in contrast to them, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) is not going to lose any momentum, asserts P. Venkataramanan, treasurer of the occasion launched by actor-turned-politician Mr. Vijay in February 2024.
Venkataramanan, who spoke to ThePrint on Wednesday, is contesting from Mylapore constituency within the April 23 meeting elections in Tamil Nadu.
Concerning TVK’s polling technique and outlook, he stated the occasion is focusing on 50-60% of the vote and goals to type a authorities, and asserted that there’s widespread public discontent in Tamil Nadu over the long-standing duopoly of the 2 largest Dravidian events, the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK.
Mr. Venkataramanan stated Mr. Vijay’s occasion represented a essentially totally different political phenomenon, one rooted in deep and enduring well-liked affection quite than the short-lived momentum that characterised earlier star-led events.
“In comparison with these earlier than us, our chief Vijay stays alive within the hearts of each particular person, each human being in Tamil Nadu. Not solely right here however everywhere in the world, he’s well-liked. Individuals have registered his face and spirit of their hearts. They dream of him coming into politics to offer one of the best service to the society,” he informed ThePrint.
He straight referred to the comparability between Mr. Vijayakanth and actors equivalent to Kamal Haasan and Mr. Vijay, saying their events, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), respectively, “should not lively within the state as a lot as they promised on the time of their inauguration and have given in to different forces.” In accordance with Venkataramanan, these events initially created buzz with a grand launch, however struggled to maintain it over time.
DMDK was launched in September 2005 and MNM in February 2018.
TVK’s treasurer went on to emphasize that Vijay just isn’t an outsider searching for private achieve or using on a short lived fan frenzy.
“Our chief minister got here with extraordinary love and sincerity for his individuals. He lives as a member of the household and that’s his attraction to the lots,” he stated, including that it was not possible for Mr. Vijay to go away “like others who got here for their very own profit”. He asserted that this natural, family-like bond will be certain that TVK doesn’t lose its momentum.
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“Karur triggered an accident.”
Referring to the massive stampede at Mr. Vijay’s political rally in Karur in September 2025 that left greater than 40 individuals lifeless and dozens injured, Mr. Venkataramanan stated it was an accident. “Whereas this was an accident, we agree that any loss is a loss to the general public. We didn’t intend for this to occur. We’re cooperating with the investigation and have faith within the investigation.”
He additionally cited administrative obstacles to campaigning, claiming the ruling occasion used police and officers to delay permits and prohibit rival occasions. Nonetheless, he stated TVK depends on “individuals’s energy” quite than energy politics.
Responding to criticism that Mr. Vijay was not campaigning actively in all areas, TVK’s treasurer dismissed it as noise attributable to rivals quite than nationwide sentiment.
“He has already reached each terrain and each area of Tamil Nadu. He’s already with the individuals, so he doesn’t wish to do any extra campaigning. Different political events are campaigning to resume their presence after ignoring the individuals after elections, however TVK is doing issues otherwise,” he informed ThePrint. “We’re not simply coming to individuals to marketing campaign. We’re already addressing individuals’s issues and supporting them on the grassroots stage.”
Requested in regards to the occasion’s stand on social points equivalent to honor killings, delimitation and even the Union Funds, Venkataramanan stated TVK believes in remaining empathetic in the direction of the affected individuals and reaching out to them quite than simply issuing public statements of condemnation.
“We’re not working behind the media to get consideration. We’re standing with the individuals,” he asserted.
He added that there’s widespread dissatisfaction among the many individuals of Tamil Nadu towards the duopoly of DMK and AIADMK, and TVK is positioning itself as the first occasion targeted on substantive service to the individuals and never simply as a 3rd choice.
He stated that not solely was the occasion aligned with previous Dravidian leaders, nevertheless it took ideological inspiration from figures like Vernasiyar, Ambedkar, Kamarajar, Bharatiyar and Periyar who had precise Dravidian roots.
The treasurer emphasised that TVK is strategically leveraging this deep connection.
He stated that Vijay is taken into account as a “member of the family” in each family and the complete marketing campaign revolves round him. “Voters all consider all TVK candidates as Vijay. We signify him. Candidates in different constituencies additionally straight profit from his charisma, as voters see them as extensions of Vijay himself.”
“Set up a authorities in 2026”
Venkataramanan expressed robust confidence in TVK’s electoral prospects on the premise of its continued attraction. He stated the clearing of the electoral rolls after the Particular Intensive Revision (SIR) train in Tamil Nadu has paved the way in which for a extra severe election marketing campaign, including that TVK expects the turnout to rise to round 90% because of the political local weather created by Mr. Vijay’s entry into the competition.
Citing Tamil Nadu’s massive youth inhabitants of round 3.6 crore voters aged between 18 and 40 in about 5.67 crore constituencies, Venkataramanan stated TVK was focusing on a vote share of 50-60 per cent in key areas.
“We’ve got stated very clearly that we are able to get 50 per cent votes. We’re the primary welfare-oriented occasion in Tamil Nadu. Individuals need Mr. Vijay to be the chief of the state. So, we’re assured of forming the federal government in 2026,” he informed ThePrint.
He pointed to the truth that Vijay’s fan base is younger and ladies, who’re conscious of the occasion’s existence and stated this has lowered the necessity for conventional booth-level micromanagement. “These teams are driving even older voters as a result of the occasion focuses on social justice, girls’s security and livelihoods, youth employment and clear alternatives, the supply of a corruption-free welfare system, and initiatives like anti-drug groups in colleges to eradicate the menace over time,” the TVK treasurer stated.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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