Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)’s WhatsApp message from Vijay for support appears to have upset Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which falls amidst the minor parties currently holding cards in TVK’s struggle to reach the majority mark after a stunning electoral debut in the Tamil Nadu elections.
TVK won 108 seats in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu elections, just 10 seats short of the majority mark of 118 seats in the 234-member state assembly. Track the latest Tamil Nadu government formation here
The party now needs 12 more MLAs from other winning parties, whose list also includes the VCK.
VCK criticizes Vijay
However, VCK general secretary Sainthani Selvan on Friday wondered whether Vijay was “stumbling in dealing with the extraordinary post-election situation, or if the second-rate leaders around him are leading him astray”.
“BJP’s attempt to impose governor’s rule through the back door in Tamil Nadu. The people of Tamil Nadu must remain vigilant,” he began his article by saying.
Selvan said that in a scenario where a clear majority was not secured to form the government, Vijay should have acted with “utmost caution”, citing what he described as a WhatsApp message seeking support and an immodest “reply” request.
“Shouldn’t Vijay have personally met the leaders of the political parties from whom he wished to seek support immediately? Shouldn’t he have publicly discussed not to fall into the trap of second-tier leaders, and the need to prevent the BJP from entering Tamil Nadu through the governor’s route? How are we to understand sending a WhatsApp message asking for support and then saying ‘reply’?” Sylvain said in a post on X.
After the victory, without adding to the pre-election contradictions, Vijay should have handled matters with great magnanimity to gain the goodwill of all leaders, Selvan said, adding that the Tamil star showed “arrogance and a vengeful mentality” once the results were in.
“But is it true that the moment news of victory arrived, he revealed his arrogance and vengeful mentality by announcing it on the day the monarchy era ended? Is there any greater irony than cooperating with the Congress party – which bears the burden of dynastic politics through Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, etc to the fifth generation – and then talking about dynastic politics? ” said Sylvan in the post.
“After calling the DMK an abolished monarchy and then forming an alliance under the leadership of the DMK to win, what logic or justification is there in unflinchingly seeking support from the Leftists and VCK without any qualms?” He added.
He accused the “second-tier leaders” of keeping Vijay detained as a prince, “preventing him from coming out, and exploiting him to settle their personal vendetta against the DMK”.
“Using Mr. Vijay’s charisma and heroic image, some second-rate leaders around him are keeping him confined as a prince, preventing him from stepping down, and exploiting him to settle their personal vendetta against the DMK. Isn’t it the height of arrogance to announce immediately after coming to power that the leaders of the DMK and AIADMK will be arrested,” Selvan wrote.
“Mr. Vijay, who should keep his council members under control through political understanding and his own affection, has unfortunately brought back resort politics to Tamil Nadu, trapping the council members once again,” he added, calling on the actor-politician to “immediately realize that the wrong methods and misguided advice from those around him are the very things that are getting in the way of support reaching him.”
“Sensing the danger in this situation where the BJP is trying to impose the governor’s rule by violating all democratic norms, and stopping him to protect Tamil Nadu – this is the challenge faced by the people,” Selvan said.
