Madurai: Actor-politician Vijay had the massive crowd in a frenzy at his party TVK’s second state-level conference here on Thursday evening.
“A lion is always a lion,” roared Vijay as he delivered a speech full of symbolism and political messaging in an effort to rally supporters ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
In a speech full of symbolism and political messaging, as he sought to rally supporters ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Ruling out an alliance with either BJP or DMK, Vijay said the former was the “ideological enemy” and the latter the only “political enemy”.
“TVK is not the party that fears anyone or has underground mafia business. Entire Tamil Nadu strength is with us. Let’s take the cudgels against fascist BJP and poison DMK,” he said.
“I don’t have the need to join any slave alliance. Our alliance won’t be a selfish alliance. It will be a self-respect oriented alliance,” Vijay declared, drawing cheers from thousands of supporters and party workers.
Vijay took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, accusing them of neglecting Tamil Nadu’s needs.
“You are not doing what’s important for us. You are keeping alliance with RSS for appeasement. You think you can have a smooth journey till 2029. Let me make it clear. Water droplets don’t stick on lotus petals. Tamilians won’t stick to BJP. You are hiding the findings of Keezhadi,” he said.
“Our Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested. Please give back Katchatheevu to our fishermen. We don’t need NEET. Please revoke it. You are not doing what’s important for us,” Vijay claimed.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | TVK chief and actor Vijay, addresses party workers who have gathered in Madurai for the party conference pic.twitter.com/y3LYZjZMHD
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2025
Vijay also criticised AIADMK, questioning the party’s leadership after MG Ramachandran’s (MGR) death.
“The party that MGR started — who protects it? How is the party now? I don’t have to say it,” he quipped.
He took a swipe at AIADMK. “When there’s a raid, they go to Delhi and meet PM Modi. After that the issues die down. Have you noticed?”
‘Uncle Stalin’ and the ‘lion’
Targeting DMK and its Chief Minister MK Stalin, Vijay mocked: “Stalin uncle, what uncle? Stalin, is it enough if you gave Rs 1,000 to women? Can you hear the sounds of those crying women? Very wrong uncle, very wrong. You are cheating women, Parandhur airport farmers, fishermen. Very worst, uncle!”
Comparing himself to a lion, Vijay said, “A lion is always peculiar. If it roars once, the sound will vibrate for eight kilometres. This kind of lion will only come out of hunt. There are so many jackals in the forest but there will be only one lion. It is the king of the jungle. A lion is always a lion. This is a clear declaration.”
2026 election plan
Vijay announced that his party would contest from all constituencies in Tamil Nadu in next year’s Vidhan Sabha polls.
“Let me announce the candidate list for the 2026 elections. I will stand in Madurai East, Madurai South, Usilampatti, Mellur — the entire Madurai. I will stand in all 234 seats.”
Addressing criticism of his entry into public life, Vijay said, “There were a lot of voices against me, but you all know me well. I don’t take it seriously. I listen only to people of Tamil Nadu. I brush it off with a small smile. Ours is an unstoppable voice and an unstoppable force.”
