Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay delivered a high-voltage campaign speech in Salem on Friday, while training his fire on two pressure points — the DMK government’s Rs 2,000 cash payout to women and what he called his own “political bomb” that has unsettled chief minister MK Stalin.Addressing a cheering crowd, Vijay took aim at the the DMK government’s cash transfer scheme for women, under which Rs 3,000 was released as an advance, with a promise of an additional Rs 2,000 later. He alleged the move was designed to influence voters and framed the contest in stark moral terms. “Will you vote for ‘good’ TVK or ‘evil’ DMK?” he asked, urging people to “take the money, but blow the whistle,” a reference to his party’s election symbol.
“My vote is my right. No one can buy us. Our vote is for whistle,” he said.Questioning the timing of what he described as a “summer bonanza,” Vijay said, “Does summer come only this year? This special allowance was announced because the sound of the whistle is being heard in every street and every home.” He claimed Stalin was unsettled by the growing popularity of TVK, particularly among women voters.Pushing back against criticism that he lacked administrative experience, the actor leaned into the charge. “We have no experience in looting,” he quipped.
The ‘political bomb’
The speech also came amid fresh political messaging from Vijay on alliances. He claimed his earlier promise of sharing power with allies had become a “political bomb” in Tamil Nadu. “Do you remember my political bomb at the Vikravandi rally; offering to share power? It is now exploding recklessly in all the alliances, CM Stalin sir is rattled and he says that power sharing will not suit Tamil Nadu,” he said.For the DMK, the alliance is only to win and for all other things, such as governance, they will be on their own, Vijay asserted.Stalin on Wednesday had ruled out the possibility of a coalition government in the state, a suggestion being voiced by Congress netas ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.“Sharing power will not suit Tamil Nadu,” the CM had said. “Both Congress and DMK are aware that power-sharing will not work in Tamil Nadu. But some are trying to create a divide between the two parties,” he said.The CM, however, said DMK’s alliance would continue with Congress. “Some are trying to break the alliance, but it will not happen. We will face the elections together.”The statement renewed strain in the DMK-Congress alliance with Congress MP Manickam Tagore publicly pushing back against Stalin after he dismissed the power-sharing demands as a “conspiracy”. Tagore, one of the most vocal proponents of a share in governance for Congress, questioned Stalin’s remarks in one-line post on X: “How is it that seeking, in a spirit of friendship, a role (a share) in work to serve the people could be termed as conspiracy?” The pointed response, accompanied by a thinking-face emoji, suggested that at least a section of the party is unwilling to soften its stand even after the DMK chief drew a clear red line.
