Chennai: Like his movies, Vijay’s newest blockbuster has had its share of twists and turns, culminating on Sunday with Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief taking oath as the brand new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The celebration created historical past on Might 4 by rising as the one largest celebration by profitable 108 seats, ending the duopoly of DMK and AIADMK within the state.
Nonetheless, the trail from 108th to 118th place was an uphill battle, elevating many questions on the brand new CM’s political immaturity.
The celebration’s response to the post-poll political situation, together with a number of visits by Mr. Vijay to the governor, reliance on personal messages on WhatsApp to solicit assist from different events, and conspicuous silence when the governor was criticized for delaying taking oath, has come beneath extreme criticism.
Observers say the actions replicate an absence of political expertise, poor disaster administration and an absence of vocal resistance to perceived central authorities intervention.
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“An off-the-cuff, informal strategy”
VCK chief Shintanay Selvan was one of many first to publicly criticize the TVK’s strategy. Mr. Vijay claimed that he was misunderstood in regards to the state of affairs because the celebration despatched him a letter looking for assist via WhatsApp.
“In a situation the place an absolute majority isn’t out there to type a authorities, TVK ought to have acted with excessive warning. Should not Mr. Vijay have instantly met immediately with the leaders of the events looking for assist? Should not he have brazenly mentioned that he’s not beneath the management of second-class leaders and the pressing have to cease the Bharatiya Janata Celebration from coming into Tamil Nadu via the governorship route?” he wrote to X.
This direct criticism from an eventual alliance companion highlighted that many noticed the informal type of engagement with potential allies as failing to encourage confidence in a stagnant parliamentary state of affairs. Critics identified that the vitality of TVK’s star-driven marketing campaign didn’t translate into the direct, communicative, alliance-building politics that Tamil Nadu has historically demanded.
“The celebration must study seriousness. Whether or not it is in dealing with alliances, speaking with homegrown MLAs or speaking with most people, TVK can now not proceed with star-driven governance. He’s now not an actor, so official and official communication may be very Negotiations with the alliance ought to have began as quickly because the outcomes began displaying good numbers and clear communication from the celebration leaders. That’s the manner in accountable and accountable politics,” stated political analyst Ram Manivannan.
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Lack of preparation and technique
The dearth of preparation and gradual technique for approaching events to type a coalition authorities was mirrored within the tempo of selections taken by coalition events. Mr. Vijay’s personal absence from conferences with potential alliance leaders was additionally branded by analysts as a strategically weak transfer.
“This case may have been dealt with higher if TVK had been ready to muster a majority and had met face-to-face with potential alliance leaders. Furthermore, it’s a identified incontrovertible fact that the BJP was making an attempt to disrupt the post-poll state of affairs in Tamil Nadu. TVK didn’t take a transparent stand and moreover didn’t make the governor’s response to the individuals clear,” Ram Manivannan stated.
He famous that though the nation has reached the stage of forming a authorities, it has not been in a position to decide on a strategic alliance with a transparent plan to fulfill and focus on assist. As an alternative, they struggled to get numbers.
Mr. Manivannan added that TVK’s need to construct an anti-BJP entrance was undermined by silence. “Vijay wished to decide on an anti-BJP coalition, however even when rivals just like the DMK raised their voices in assist of him, they didn’t say something in opposition to the BJP or the governor. They remained silent in sure areas, which exhibits their inexperience and lack of knowledge to take the fitting motion after the polls,” Ram Manivannan instructed ThePrint.
Ram Manivannan calls this unprecedented as many citizens voted for Vijay with out figuring out in regards to the TVK candidate. He added that when TVK varieties a authorities within the close to future, it’s going to want impartial organizational power.
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Communication gaps and “privileged” habits
Even earlier than the election outcomes have been launched, TVK’s organizational power was being questioned because of cancellations of celebration occasions, lack of clear directions to the general public relating to rallies, and sudden schedule modifications.
At the same time as Congress leaders staged a protest outdoors the governor’s workplace questioning the delay in inviting Mr. Vijay to type the federal government, TVK leaders averted any type of direct protest. The dearth of deep organizational weaknesses throughout the celebration has additionally been identified in its dealing with of the post-poll state of affairs.
Analyst Arun Kumar sees this as Vijay’s sense of entitlement, calling it “privileged habits” that emanates from his star standing. “TVK stays silent and Mr. Vijay doesn’t converse brazenly to the general public, forcing the media to depend on source-based data. Though TVK contacted its alliance companions, it didn’t present any official communication. This has led to plenty of misunderstandings. The star’s charisma is partly mirrored in the best way he handles situations,” he stated.
He added that if Mr. Vijay doesn’t wish to converse immediately when an official place is required, the celebration must appoint a transparent spokesperson to supply official readability to its cadres, allies and the general public.
“TVK’s silence on calling the BJP their enemy was questioned many occasions. Nonetheless, criticism was restricted as they have been simply an rising celebration and such errors have been ignored. However to any extent further, in the event that they intend to run the federal government, they are going to be beneath public scrutiny,” he added.
With Dravidian majors DMK and AIADMK elevating their voices on nationwide points, TVK additionally must catch up, analysts say.
“The wrestle with the central authorities on points like governor’s interference, delimitation and central funding must be clearly communicated. The discourse on anti-BJP sentiments is necessary in nationwide politics and if they don’t stand as much as the disgruntled forces, the celebration’s energy will weaken. TVK’s silence on the BJP is questionable even earlier than the election outcomes,” Arun Kumar stated.
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“A strategic and mature response is important.”
TVK chief Vijay’s repeated visits to the governor and pleading his case for forming the federal government with out ample letters of assist mirrored the necessity for a greater evaluate of the celebration’s democratic rights. Analysts consider that lack of expertise and immaturity shall be a problem going ahead.
Political analyst A. Ramasamy highlighted the persistence of an “actor-like” strategy in critical political transactions and the avoidance of public communication.
“The governor’s response can be questionable, however Mr. Vijay may have thought of the technical points of his declare to type the federal government earlier than visiting the governor. It was a deliberate delay on the a part of the governor, however TVK’s response may have been extra mature and approached accordingly. Politics is totally different from cinema and understanding of necessary political processes can’t be ignored. Provided that TVK is the one largest celebration, there was no want for a number of visits,” he instructed ThePrint.
He recommended enhancing the usage of cadres, saying, “Inexperience is an issue for the celebration, and we have to make higher use of the expertise and organizational abilities of Sengottayayan from the Left celebration and Thirumavalavan, the VCK chief.”
Whereas Mr. Vijay’s private charisma has succeeded in mobilizing voters, analysts and political voices stress that sustained success requires sharper coalition administration, proactive responses, and extra assertive positions on key points.
Whereas analysts acknowledge that an alliance with an skilled celebration just like the VCK or the Left may assist fill the inexperience hole sooner or later, additionally they warn that Mr. Vijay’s constant silence on key points may develop into an alarming norm. Although Mr. Vijay secured the required assist from TVK and was sworn in as chief minister, the episode highlighted the steep studying curve for the younger celebration.
(Edited by Vinny Mishra)
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