TVK Chief Vijay Makes Comeback; Sharpens Attack On DMK

After a pause of almost two months, actor Vijay, who heads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, returned to the campaign trail on Sunday as he gears up for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. It marked Vijay’s first time facing the public since the tragic stampede in Karur, which claimed the lives of 41 of his supporters. The Karur disaster became a moment that shifted perceptions. When everything went wrong and people looked to Vijay for a steady presence, he chose to fly out, a move that dented the heroic aura many had associated with him. At a closed-door meeting with party members in a college auditorium in Kancheepuram, Vijay met with his party cadre, trying to regain lost ground and repair the image shaken by the Karur tragedy.

When Vijay resumed campaigning, his message had hardened, and the ruling DMK was clearly the focus of his attack. But Vijay avoided any reference to the Karur incident while speaking to his supporters. Vijay claimed the DMK government has moved away from the ideals C. N. Annadurai believed in, adding that it now treats “looting” as if it were a principle it openly follows.

The event was intentionally scaled down and closely managed, set up away from big public spaces, a move that showed just how cautious they were after the Karur tragedy. But the controlled setting didn’t carry over into Vijay’s speech. He told the crowd that the government had tricked people into supporting them and now pretends to be doing noble work. He said it was all a performance and made it clear that they wouldn’t be let off the hook and would have to face tough questions.

Vijay said there was nothing personal in his disagreement with the DMK, explaining that even if they hold a grudge, he doesn’t. He reminded people that his political journey began in Parandur, where he stood with residents opposing the greenfield airport project, and added that restarting from Kancheepuram after the tragedy was meant to mirror that first step.

He said TVK’s manifesto would promise stronger public hospitals, more say for groups like fishermen, teachers, weavers and government staff in policy decisions, and wider support for families. He mentioned ideas such as helping people buy cars, giving each household a motorcycle, and ensuring every family has a home. It was a broad and carefully framed promise, clearly aimed at addressing the expectations of Tamil Nadu’s lower-middle-class households. Vijay assured the audience that he wasn’t there to make exaggerated claims or deceive anyone. He said he only promised what he could deliver. Vijay’s return was being closely observed by leaders across parties, with many curious about how it might change Tamil Nadu’s political scenario.