Actor-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Sunday sharpened his political pitch ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister MK Stalin, declaring that the upcoming polls would be a straight contest between the two leaders.
Addressing a party rally in Vellore, Vijay accused the DMK government of corruption, misgovernance and failing to ensure public safety, and sought to position himself as the principal alternative to Stalin’s rule.
“This is a war between the people of Tamil Nadu and corruption and bribery. It is a war between the people of Tamil Nadu and this DMK government, which has failed to govern properly. In other words, it is a battle between the people of Tamil Nadu and your rule,” Vijay asserted.
“To put it even more simply, it is a contest between Vijay and Stalin, sir,” he added.
Stepping up his attack, Vijay further questioned Stalin’s alleged narrative that the upcoming polls are a contest between Tamil Nadu and the NDA in Delhi, saying instead that the real fight is between the DMK and the people of Tamil Nadu. “Tamil Nadu is Vijay, and Vijay is Tamil Nadu,” he said.
“Don’t see this as just another election held every five years, this is a once-in-fifty-years, extraordinary election. In most polls, parties oppose their rivals; that’s the norm. But in this election, everyone has united to oppose one person,” he said.
The TVK chief also alleged that everyone was hell-bent on targeting him, claiming that he was being opposed because he stood against corruption.
“Why is everyone opposing a single person? Because Vijay stands against corruption and bribery, and stands with the people. And the people are standing with him. That is the challenge. No matter how much you oppose him, the real contest is only between two sides: this side and the other,” he continued.
Blaming the government for allegedly obstructing his event, Vijay said the current situation did not allow him to come and meet the people. He, however, promised that once the TVK forms the government, “I will visit every village and meet all of you.”
Vijay also slammed CM Stalin for blaming him over the stampede at his Karur rally that claimed 41 lives, saying the DMK leader had no conscience.
“A reporter recently asked him a question, and he replied, ‘I don’t have any enemies; they are all my friends.’ If we are all your friends, then why did you blame me for the Karur incident? If you had a conscience, would you have spoken like that?” he asked.
Reiterating his attack on the state government, the actor-politician further alleged that law and order in Tamil Nadu was in shambles and that women were unsafe across the state, despite the government’s tall promises.
The DMK has not yet responded to Vijay’s fresh allegations made at the Vellore rally.
Tamil Nadu is set to head for Assembly elections before May this year, with Vijay attempting to position himself as the principal challenger to the ruling DMK.
