“We didn’t get power easily. Only we know the struggles we faced to get a place.” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay said that on Tuesday, 23 June, in the state Assembly, answering critics who call his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) an “actor’s party”.
He was replying to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address. The party, he said, won 35 per cent of the vote despite what he called political obstacles and conspiracies. “We are here. Still miles to go,” he said. Critics say TVK lacks experience and is an extension of his film career. Vijay traced his path back through fan clubs and welfare work to the founding of TVK in 2024, and he invoked two former chief ministers, C.N. Annadurai and M.G. Ramachandran. He asked the public to judge his government on performance, not early criticism, and said it was working to fix shortcomings it inherited.
Karur and the corruption charge
Vijay also spoke about the Karur stampede, in which 41 people died at a political rally he was due to address. “No matter how much time passes, the sorrow and pain of losing 41 of our brothers and sisters in Karur will remain in our hearts forever,” he said. Then came the part that still stung: “What hurt us even more was the attempt to place the blame on us. I still do not understand why such things were done. Is politics meant to be this cruel?”
The sharpest exchange followed. Opposition members had said his ministers and legislators lacked administrative experience. “We know how to do public service, but we don’t know how to embezzle people’s money,” Vijay replied. He accused earlier governments of corruption in tenders, appointments, promotions, temple administration and the handling of public revenue.
Then he said: “All the loot committed in TASMAC in the name of party funds is coming to light to Tamil Nadu government.” DMK members objected strongly, and the House filled with noise and repeated interruptions. Members of the ruling party shouted back in support of the Chief Minister, and the Speaker stepped in to restore order. “We will not touch a single paisa of the people’s money, we will not touch it,” Vijay said. He also took an indirect swipe at dynastic politics, saying his government would serve every family in Tamil Nadu and not one political family.
The Union government, NEET and Hindi
Vijay rejected claims that his government is aligned with the BJP-led Union government. “We are ideologically opposed to the party ruling at the Union government, but we will not oppose them blindly. Tamil Nadu’s development is our priority,” he said. To minorities and alliance partners he added: “We are not anybody’s team. We are a people’s team, a social justice team, and a secular team.”
He repeated the state’s opposition to the NEET entrance test, which he said puts rural and poorer students at a disadvantage. Tamil Nadu has asked the Union government to allow medical admissions on Class 12 marks and to grant the state an exemption. Vijay pointed to recurring controversies, including allegations of paper leaks and concerns over student stress. He also backed the state’s two-language formula of Tamil and English and said his government would resist anything seen as imposing Hindi.
On law and order, he acknowledged problems such as crime and drug trafficking, but said many of the issues raised by opposition parties carried over from previous governments. His government, he said, had tightened monitoring to deal with power outages, policing and the circulation of drugs.
Sources
- Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Rejects ‘Actor’s Party’ Tag, Highlights NEET Opposition and Pledges Social Justice in State
- ‘Still Miles To Go’: CM Vijay Renews TN's Anti-NEET Stand, Takes Aim At DMK In Assembly Speech
