Udhayanidhi, Annamalai welcome Vijay’s political foray

DMK youth wing secretary, Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin, and BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai welcomed actor Vijay’s entry into politics on Friday.

“Everyone has the right to start a political party in Indian democracy. Actor Vijay, too, has taken this decision. I extend my greetings to him. Let him prosper in service to the public,” Mr. Udhayanidhi told reporters.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Annamalai said Mr. Vijay had launched a political party (Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam) to fight against “corrupt politics, deliver non-partisan and clean politics, and serve the people.”

In a three-page statement, Mr. Vijay said the party will start propagating its “Tamil Nadu-centric” ideology and policies among the people through public events after the Lok Sabha election.

Arguably the most prominent and highest-paid star in Tamil Nadu at the moment, Mr. Vijay, the founder-president of the party, said while Tamil Nadu has suffered due to maladministration and corruption, the State also has been plagued by the politics of hate and divisiveness.

“It is a fact that everyone is yearning for governance that is selfless, transparent, corruption-free, and without caste or religious bias. What is important is that such politics is in tune with the Tamil culture of equality and political traditions of the State, and within the framework of Indian Constitution,” he said.