Setting the bar for other parties ahead of the highly-anticipated Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, actor-turned-politician Vijay on Wednesday unveiled key promises of his party’s election manifesto, pledging free higher education for children of small and marginal farmers and vowing strict action against corruption if voted to power in the state.
Addressing party functionaries in the historically significant Thanjavur – once capital of the medieval Chola empire – the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief described the upcoming Assembly election as an “oceanic emotion” for him and his supporters, urging voters to give him an opportunity to govern.
Among the headline assurances, Vijay said that if elected to power, the TVK government would fully bear the higher education expenses of students from farming families owning less than two acres of land.
The benefit, he clarified, would apply only to families where no member is employed in a State or Union government job.
The promise is aimed at supporting economically vulnerable rural households struggling with rising education costs.
Vijay also committed to initiating action against those involved in corruption, positioning his party as a clean alternative in the state’s political landscape.
Vowing protection to the state’s fisherman community, Vijay said, “Listen to what I say, the next government will be a TVK government. Fishermen, remain hopeful; your protection will be fully ensured”.
He intensified his criticism of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), reiterating his charge that it represents a “theeya sakti” or evil force, and claiming that even children have begun echoing the phrase.
Thanjavur, the district that Vijay chose to deliver his first ever election manifesto, comprises eight Assembly constituencies, including the Scheduled Caste-reserved Thiruvidaimarudur seat, currently represented by Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK dominated the region by securing seven of the eight seats, underlining its strong foothold.
The AIADMK won only the Orathanadu constituency. The remaining segments in the district are Kumbakonam, Papanasam, Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur, Pattukkottai and Peravurani, reflecting a largely one-sided electoral verdict in favour of the DMK during the last state polls.
The manifesto unveiling comes days after Vijay’s wife, Sangeetha Sornalingam, filed a petition for divorce seeking to end their 27 years of marriage. The couple, who married in August 1999, have two children, Jason Sanjay and Divya Shasha.
Meanwhile, referring to the recent controversy over the release of his film Jananayagan, Vijay thanked Chief Minister Stalin for speaking in support of the film, though he remarked that the support did not significantly alter the situation.
“During the release of the film Jananayagan, many people raised their voices in support. Even our Chief Minister voiced his support. I thank them for that”, he said. “Chief Minister, you may try to silence me, but you cannot silence every Vijay in every household. They have already begun their campaign”.
He did not mention support expressed earlier by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the issue.
Further sharpening his attack on the DMK, Vijay said, “When people ask for basic amenities, you dismiss it by citing financial burden. Even though you knew that the state government cannot ban the NEET examination, you misled the people by claiming that you would put an end to it. Do you believe this Vijay, or do you believe Stalin?”
Invoking regional pride, Vijay drew parallels between TVK’s election symbol, the “whistle,” and the popular “whistle podu” slogan associated with IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
He said the party’s whistle symbol should resonate in every household and polling booth across Tamil Nadu.
In a cricket analogy, he asserted that a “Delhi team cannot defeat the Tamil Nadu team,” in an apparent dig at the BJP, reinforcing his message of state pride and political self-assertion.
“Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, DMK members are projecting it as a contest between the Tamil Nadu team and the Delhi team. Even in cricket, the Delhi team cannot match the Tamil Nadu team. Tamil Nadu is TVK, and TVK is Tamil Nadu. All such divisions of Tamil Nadu team versus Delhi team will be set aside – the TVK team will win,” Vijay said.
With the Assembly polls expected in April, Vijay urged voters to back TVK, portraying the election as not merely a political battle but a deeply personal and emotional turning point for him and his supporters.
With agency inputs
