The BJP Tamil Nadu accused actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay of running what it described as a paid and deceptive political campaign by imitating DMK ideologies to mislead voters in the State.
The BJP alleged that Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, was indulging in what it termed an “inside-out betting game”, pretending to criticise the DMK for financial gains while indirectly ensuring the ruling party’s electoral advantage.
TVK held a public meeting in Erode on December 18, marking its first major outreach after the tragic incident in September last year, when 41 people lost their lives in a stampede at a TVK public meeting venue in Karur. A probe by the CBI and an inquiry by a panel appointed by the Supreme Court are currently underway.
In a statement, TN BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad said, “Joseph Vijay is entering electoral politics dreaming of becoming the CM of Tamil Nadu. Actor Vijay must take up people’s welfare politics. By pledging the TVK party and its cadres and taking wages to scold the DMK, actor Vijay’s money politics aimed at defeating the BJP–AIADMK alliance will not succeed.”
He said, “At every public meeting and campaign, calling the DMK a people-enemy rule and an evil force, speaking without respect about M K Stalin, and claiming TVK will topple the DMK, while living comfortably in Panaiyur and Santhome and delivering heroic lines, actor Vijay cannot bring political change in Tamil Nadu.”
Referring to the ongoing Thiruparankundram temple issue, Prasad said, “The DMK has illegally prevented the lighting of Karthigai Deepam for Tamil God Murugan, showing disrespect to court orders. Why hide behind the DMK without condemning CM Stalin’s Hindu-hatred attitude? When CM, Deputy Chief Minister Stalin, T. R. Baalu, A. Raja and Kanimozhi spoke against the Hindu religion, Hindu gods and Sanatana Dharma, why does Vijay act in favour of the DMK?”
Adding further, Prasad said, “Using plundered lottery money to hold meetings, buying leaders from other parties, sidelining workers who believed in him and worked tirelessly, and mixing cinema shoots with politics, Vijay must understand the real political ground situation in Tamil Nadu and speak the truth.”
He said, “On issues such as drug culture destroying the lives of Tamil Nadu’s youth, TASMAC trade breaking Tamil women’s mangala sutra, land and mineral plunder, destruction of water sources, quarry corruption, Pallikaranai wetland corruption, Chennai flood relief canal corruption, corruption across departments and the rise in prices of essential goods, how many protests did Vijay conduct against the DMK government while projecting its failures as achievements?”
The TN BJP further stated, “The DMK government has lost its moral right to rule Tamil Nadu under the Constitution, with murders of social workers and political opponents, rising sexual violence that has instilled fear among women, rowdyism, illegal businesses, police human rights violations and custodial deaths. Enacting a hidden plan to return to power while claiming to be an alternative to the DMK is nothing but joke politics.”
Prasad said, “The BJP secured a historic victory in Bihar and defeated the Communists in Kerala with a strong performance in local body elections. In the 2026 Assembly elections as well, the National Democratic Alliance will win. Knowing this, Vijay says he will not speak about those in the field, indirectly criticising the AIADMK and BJP to confuse people in favour of the DMK. The real force to defeat the DMK is the leadership of Narendra Modi and his welfare schemes, development works and infrastructure projects for Tamil Nadu.”
Concluding the statement, Prasad said, “Tamil Nadu’s people, especially the youth, have understood actor Vijay’s selfish lottery and finance-driven politics. I will admire Vijay as an actor on screen, but deceiving people by pretending to oppose the DMK on stage while negotiating privately will not work. His inside-out gambling politics will fail. No one can deceive the people of Tamil Nadu any longer.”
