TVK founder C Joseph Vijay, who has never hidden his Christian identity, has been visiting temples across Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly poll results. This has surprised many, as his films often questioned temple rituals, pooja, and temple construction.
He also remained silent during the Bhagwan Muruguan issue at Thiruparankundram. Critics say his sudden temple visits appear timed with the elections, suggesting an attempt to project a secular image and impress Hindus.
One of the netizens raised some questions about visits to temples and timings. He says, “Joseph Vijay doesn’t wish on Hindu festivals, not even Tamil New Year. His popular dialogue in the movie was ‘Build schools instead of temples’, and now to impress Hindus, he is visiting Hindu temples. No non-Hindu should be allowed in temples, and it is disrespect to Vel.”
Joseph Vijay doesn’t wish on HINDU festivals not even Tamil New year
His popular dialogue in the movie was
BUILD Schools instead of TEMPLESAnd now to garner HINDU votes he is visiting HINDU temples
No Non Hindu should be allowed in temple & it’s disrespect to VEL 😈 pic.twitter.com/YfY8gLLfIh
— Sheetal Chopra 🇮🇳 (@SheetalPronamo) April 28, 2026
Vijay’s confidante, actress Trisha, is also on a temple visit spree. She visited Maruthamalai Murugan Temple. Critics say both could be visiting temples as per the advice of astrologers.
ஓ இது ஏதோ பர்சனல் பரிகாரம் போல.. pic.twitter.com/X3l4uroSkD
— Trollywood 𝕏 (@TrollywoodX) April 28, 2026
Another post on X pointed that what is the reason behind Joseph Vijay’s visit to Tiruchendur Temple? And who permitted this drama involving the Vel? Shouldn’t those responsible be held accountable?
https://twitter.com/BalambalMurali/status/2048944836213137748?s=20
Another post says, “Beware Hindus. He was tight-lipped during the Thiruparankundram temple deepam issue. Why is he staging a drama of visiting Hindu temples which he had not done in all these years? For 55 years, he had been a regular visitor to churches and attended Christmas and Ramzan celebrations. He did not go to console the families of 41 who lost their lives in a stampede during his public rally. Neither did he visit the family of a fan who died of head injuries. Now how was it possible to visit Madurai and from there to Tiruchendur Murugan Temple without much crowd?”
இந்து மக்களே விழித்து கொள்ளுங்கள்..
திருப்பரங்குன்றம் விவகாரத்தில் வாய் முடிக்கிட்டு இருந்தவன்….
இத்தனை வருஷமா இல்லாத வராத இந்து முருகபக்தி நாடகம் அரங்கேற்றம்…
53வருஷ வாழ்க்கையில் சர்ச்சுக்கு மட்டுமே போகத்தெரிந்த கிருஸ்துமஸ் ரம்ஜான் விழாவில் மட்டுமே கலந்து கொண்டவன்…… pic.twitter.com/J54watwcjf
— இந்துத்துவம் 🚩 (@VVR_Krish) April 28, 2026
One post says Vijay is all of a sudden a Hindu devotee. “He can dream about the CM chair all he wants, but the ballot box has already decided his fate. May 4th is the final ‘The End’ for TVK.”
Same PR, different costume. Now Vijay is an All of a sudden an Hindu devotee? He can dream about the CM chair all he wants, but the ballot box has already decided his fate.
May 4th is the final 'The End' for TVK.
pic.twitter.com/9usFQvbQ0g— 𝐑𝐈𝐘𝐀 🌻 (@Riyashaishere) April 28, 2026
Till filing nomination papers, Vijay dropped “Joseph” (his original name) before it. However, BJP leader H Raja and very few others called him by his full name, C Joseph Vijay. In his nomination papers, his full name was mentioned, and now he uses this freely without any fear.
#VIJAY visited Amman Kovil on the same day in the Same Trichy! Stop spreading communal hatred like the BJP !
VCK will dissolve in upcoming years. @TVKVijayHQpic.twitter.com/VjgstXjFUp https://t.co/nUZam7CCKu
— Troll Cinema ( TC ) (@Troll_Cinema) April 28, 2026
Another tweet says, “How can a practising Christian Joseph Vijay be allowed inside a Hindu temple? Will a church allow a practising Hindu to chant Vishnu Sahasranamam inside the church when Christians are praying? This is blatant exploitation of the tolerance that Hindutv is known for. Actor Vijay is doing this purely for his TVK party politics, and he and the Hindus who support him should be terribly ashamed!”
Hinduism’s tolerance has been taken for a royal ride yet again – Hindu unity will never happen
This is horrendous. How can a practicing Christian Joseph Vijay be allowed inside a Hindu temple? Does any Hindu scripture allow this?
Will a church allow a practicing Hindu to chant… https://t.co/gFtQkTGT5M pic.twitter.com/XFDsh1rkRs
— Praveen (@DrPraveenwrites) April 28, 2026
Another vlogger said, “Those who want further clarification on this issue of non-Hindus entering Agamic temples should read what the court has to say. Vijay is a leader of a political party. He should respect the law. Authorities must take a written affidavit from him that he subscribes to the customs and practices of the specific temple and professes Hinduism, and only then should he be allowed inside. Temples are not tourism or picnic spots beyond the kodimaram (flagpole).”
Those who want further clarification on this issue of non Hindus entering agamic temples. Read up what the court has to say. Vijay is a leader of a political party. He should respect the law. The authorities must take a written affidavit from him that he prescribed to the…
— kishore k swamy 🇮🇳 (@sansbarrier) April 28, 2026
Sources say Vijay is planning to visit Shirdi Sai Temple. He is to travel to Maharashtra for a temple visit and is likely to leave from Chennai on April 29 in a private jet to Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, as a damage-control measure ahead of the counting of votes, his fans have erected posters across Tamil Nadu appealing to TVK cadres not to take any extreme steps.
A loose translation reads: “Dear Vijay fans, be alert. Even if you are broken, please be calm. Your life is precious. Do not have any suicidal thoughts. If you need help, please contact the following numbers. You are not alone. We are with you. Vijay fans mean love, affection, responsibility, and value of life.”
— Sathiyavathi (@sathiyavathi7) April 28, 2026
Before the polls, Vijay, in clear violation, involved children to support TVK candidates. There have been many videos of young children with tears in their eyes, some threatening their parents with extreme steps, forcing them to cast votes for Vijay Anna.
Vijay urged children to throw tantrums unless their parents vote for TVK. Vijay added: “Do it for Vijay mama.” He made this appeal at the Nandanam YMCA grounds in Chennai during his final campaign speech on April 21. Vijay recalled how children cry when parents refuse to buy them chocolates or clothes and said, “Do the same so Vijay mama can win.”
There have been videos of children forcing or cajoling their parents. In one, the mother can be heard encouraging the child as he continues to browbeat his father: “Who will you vote for?” When the father replies “DMK”, the mother chimes in, “Tell him he better vote for TVK.”
In another, a young woman tells her father to vote for Vijay, otherwise she will poison his food. In another video, a man pretends to argue with a small child about whom he should vote for. The child pulls the man’s hair and slaps him repeatedly, asking him to vote for actor Vijay. In another video, a little boy repeatedly shouts “shut up” at grandparents who say they plan to vote for the DMK and AIADMK. The child threatens suicide if they do not agree to vote for Vijay.
Another woman says she would kill herself and feed poison to her son if Vijay’s TVK loses the elections. It is a worrying pattern.
Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch (TNCRW) has raised a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI): “There are indications that such content is being deliberately produced and amplified to normalise this practice. A specific video suggests endorsement of such messaging.”
This is beyond hero worship, snowballing into a cult, possibly through a well-orchestrated plan to boost Vijay. Critics suspect the hand of a strong Church lobby funding and managing Vijay’s party affairs.
