Chennai
-Gaurav Sharma
Actor-turned-politician
Vijay
told
party
workers
that
he
“won’t
surrender
under
pressure” and
“won’t
bow
down”,
hours
after
fresh
challenges
hit
both
Vijay
and
the
upcoming
film
Jana
Nayagan.
Vijay
linked
the
pressure
to
politics
in
Tamil
Nadu,
urging
supporters
to
stay
firm
as
elections
approach.
At
a
strategy
meeting
in
Mamallapuram,
around
3,000
office-bearers
from
state
and
district
units
of
Vijay’s
party,
Tamizhaga
Vetri
Kazhagam
(TVK),
gathered
to
plan
the
coming
Tamil
Nadu
election.
The
51-year-old
star
described
the
stakes
as
high
and
urged
disciplined,
organised
work
at
every
level.
Actor-turned-politician
Vijay
addressed
Tamizhaga
Vetri
Kazhagam
(TVK)
party
workers
in
Mamallapuram,
Tamil
Nadu,
to
prepare
for
the
upcoming
state
elections,
which
he
termed
a
‘democratic
war,’
criticizing
the
DMK
and
AIADMK
and
stating
TVK
as
the
alternative.
Additionally,
his
film,
Jana
Nayagan,
faced
a
release
block,
and
he
is
under
CBI
investigation
regarding
the
Karur
rally
deaths.
Vijay
TVK
Tamil
Nadu
election
message
and
‘democratic
war’
Speaking
about
TVK’s
likely
debut
in
the
Tamil
Nadu
election,
Vijay
told
cadres,
“It
is
not
just
an
election,
but
a
democratic
war.
You
are
my
commandos
who
will
fight
this
war.” Vijay
asked
workers
to
treat
the
poll
like
a
long
campaign
instead
of
a
single
event.
Vijay
criticised
the
ruling
Dravida
Munnetra
Kazhagam
(DMK)
and
main
opposition
All
India
Anna
Dravida
Munnetra
Kazhagam
(AIADMK),
saying
“Those
in
politics
have
forgotten
Anna,
including
those
whose
party’s
name
has
Anna.” By
invoking
CN
Annadurai,
Vijay
accused
both
Dravidian
giants
of
straying
from
their
founder’s
ideas.
Vijay
TVK
Tamil
Nadu
election
strategy,
voting
and
rivals
Vijay
alleged
that
polling
booths
had
become
tools
for
those
in
power,
calling
them
bogus
vote
centres
when
misused.
He
instructed
TVK
workers,
“Protect
each
vote,
meet
everyone.”
Vijay
added
that
only
TVK
dared
to
confront
the
‘evil
force’
(DMK)
and
the
‘corrupt
force’
(AIADMK),
projecting
the
party
as
a
clean
alternative.
TVK
leaders
said
a
statewide
campaign
tour
would
start
the
next
day,
with
plans
to
cover
all
234
Assembly
constituencies
in
Tamil
Nadu.
The
goal
is
to
build
support
in
every
seat
before
the
state
polls.
Party
leaders
also
said
there
is
no
alliance
decision
yet
and
Vijay
alone
will
decide
on
any
tie-ups.
Vijay’s
political
entry
has
drawn
intense
attention
for
months.
In
September
last
year,
41
people
died
in
a
stampede
at
a
rally
Vijay
addressed
in
Karur,
Tamil
Nadu.
The
Central
Bureau
of
Investigation
is
probing
the
deaths,
and
Vijay
has
already
faced
questioning
twice
by
CBI
officers
in
Delhi.
His
film
career
has
also
run
into
trouble.
Vijay’s
movie
Jana
Nayagan
has
been
blocked
by
the
Censor
Board,
preventing
its
release.
Vijay
has
moved
court
seeking
clearance
so
the
film
can
reach
theatres,
even
as
TVK
builds
its
campaign
and
Vijay
sharpens
attacks
on
DMK
and
AIADMK.
