Assembly election: Vijay rejects Stalin’s ‘T.N. vs Delhi’ narrative, says fight is between TVK and DMK

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and actor Vijay on Monday (February 23, 2026) rejected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s portrayal of the 2026 Assembly elections as a contest between “Tamil Nadu and New Delhi,” asserting instead that the real fight is between the TVK and the ruling DMK.

Mr. Vijay, while addressing TVK office-bearers and functionaries at a conference at Agaramcheri village near the Pallikonda toll plaza in Vellore, was referring to Mr. Stalin’s recent remarks that the upcoming polls would be a fight between the people of Tamil Nadu and the BJP-led Centre in New Delhi over the protection of the State’s rights.

In other words, Mr. Vijay said, the contest was being projected as one between the people of Tamil Nadu and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), of which the BJP is a constituent in the State. “It does not sound logical. The 2026 Assembly elections are a battle between the people of Tamil Nadu and corruption. In short, it is a fight between the ‘pure force’ led by the TVK and the ‘evil force’ that is the DMK,” he contended.

‘Don’t take polls lightly’

Emphasising the importance of the polls, Mr. Vijay cautioned voters, especially the youth, against taking the elections lightly. He said such fiercely contested elections would come only once in 50 years, not every five years. “When you vote in this poll, you should remember that one of the contestants is your family member. We are inseparable,” he said.

Taking a dig at the Chief Minister’s statement that he had no adversaries in politics but only friends, he asked why, if that were the case, Mr. Stalin had blamed him for the Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives during a rally he addressed on September 27, 2025. “How does the Chief Minister hold me solely responsible for the incident? If Mr. Stalin had a conscience, would he have spoken like that?” he asked.

Mr. Vijay further alleged that corruption and political opportunism were Mr. Stalin’s true allies, not the TVK, and said the ruling party’s “indifferent attitude” was evident. He claimed such an approach was not limited to the Karur stampede but extended to delays in granting permission for TVK meetings and events. The DMK, he claimed, believed it could cripple the TVK’s people-oriented activities, which he described as a mistake.

He also accused the DMK government of failing to fulfil its 2021 poll promises, including monthly electricity billing and improved bus connectivity to remote and hilly areas. According to him, several hill regions lacked regular bus services and adequate health centres, forcing some families to opt for home deliveries due to the absence of accessible medical facilities.