TVK Madurai conference HIGHLIGHTS | Vijay slams BJP, PM Modi, DMK and 'Stalin uncle in speech; promises people-centric politics
Asserting that the 2026 Assembly election would be a straight fight between the DMK and the TVK, Vijay called on his party cadre to ensure the ruling party’s defeat.
Visual from the TVK's second state-level conference in Madurai
CHENNAI: Actor-politician Vijay went all guns blazing at the TVK’s second state-level conference, targeting the ruling DMK government and Chief Minister MK Stalin, accusing them of misgovernance, corruption, and false poll promises. Asserting that the 2026 Assembly election would be a straight fight between the DMK and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), he called on his party cadre to ensure the ruling party’s defeat.
Taking aim at the BJP in his 35-minute-long speech, the TVK chief reiterated that the saffron party was the TVK’s ideological enemy (and the DMK its political enemy). “The Centre's plans will not bear fruit in this secular land. The BJP cannot win in this state with any alliance.”
Earlier, Vijay sprinted along the 500-metre-long ramp extending from the stage in his trademark style, greeting supporters who presented him with scarves in the party colours, even as a special anthem played in the background.
Meanwhile, as per TV reports, an attendee reportedly died, while at least 200 people fainted due to the heat at the event venue. On Wednesday, a giant flagpole on which Vijay was scheduled to hoist the TVK flag collapsed atop a car, crushing it. A supporter in Virudhunagar district was electrocuted to death while erecting a cutout ahead of the conference.
In light of the lakhs of supporters and volunteers present at the expansive 500-acre ground in Parapathi in Madurai district, over 3,000 police personnel were deployed to manage the crowd alongside drones with medical kits.
Live Updates
- 22 Aug 2025 6:11 PM IST
Vijay sharpens attacks on BJP, DMK, and AIADMK; says TVK will lead ’26 battle
Invoking yesteryear icons like MGR and Vijayakant as inspirations, reeling out punch dialogues by the dozen, and unleashing fiery attacks on the regimes at both at the State and Centre, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) president and actor Vijay offered a short but sumptuous feast for his frenzied fans at the party’s second State conference in Madurai on Thursday.
Declaring that the TVK would form an alliance for 2026 and share power with allies after the polls, Vijay said Tamil Nadu was ready for a new political force. "Is it possible to seize power, they ask. Vijay's group is one that will hunt down anti-people rulers in the upcoming elections and pave the way for the Fort St George," he said to thunderous response from the large gathering.
Comparing himself to a lion, Vijay said, "The lion’s roar is heard miles away. It hunts only the strong and living, never preys on the weak or rotten. A lion may be alone, but it fears nothing. It always remains the king of the jungle. This is not just a description but also a declaration."
Vijay identified the BJP as the TVK's "ideological enemy" and the DMK as its "political enemy". He also extended a call to the AIADMK cadre, accusing their leadership of betraying MGR's legacy. "The AIADMK-BJP alliance is one of convenience,” he said, and added that the fight in 2026 is between TVK and DMK, clearly trying to woo the AIADMK sympathisers to vote for him to oust the DMK.
- 22 Aug 2025 5:02 PM IST
EPS rebuts Vijay’s remarks on AIADMK, says TVK leader speaks out of 'ignorance'
Hours after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay criticised the AIADMK leadership during the Madurai conference on Thursday, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami rebutted the actor-turned-politician by stating that he was speaking out of ‘ignorance’ without knowing the ground reality. He also ridiculed Vijay, saying he ‘pities’ the cadres who follow such a leader who wants instant success in politics.
“Today, a few are questioning who is heading and operating the AIADMK. I consider them to be speaking out of ignorance. Without even knowing this, a person has become the leader of a party. I wonder what his party cadres would be like, just thinking about it,” said Palaniswami, addressing a large gathering at Kancheepuram, which he described as comprising party functionaries, cadres and sympathisers.
- 22 Aug 2025 5:01 PM IST
Dravidian parties have failed, says TVK functionary Arunraj
Addressing the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) state conference in Madurai on Thursday, party official KG Arunraj claimed that the Dravidian parties have lost their original purpose and credibility. Speaking at the conference, IRS officer turned TVK's general secretary of propaganda and policy said: “The Dravidian parties have failed. Perarignar Anna did not accumulate any wealth for his family, in fact, he was in debt. But what is the condition of today’s DMK leaders? If just two more Enforcement Directorate raids take place, they might even say that a coalition government with the BJP is necessary." READ HERE
- 22 Aug 2025 4:59 PM IST
Aadhav Arjuna slams DMK, vows TVK will win 2026 elections
Aadhav Arjuna addressed a massive gathering at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party’s second state conference in Madurai on Thursday, sharply criticising the DMK leadership for corruption and deviation from Dravidian ideals. Arjuna praised TVK chief Vijay as the only leader capable of upholding the principles of CN Annadurai and MG Ramachandran, and vowed that the party would convert these ideals into political success in the 2026 Assembly elections.
He said, "Karunanidhi created a corrupt empire involving ten families close to him. MK Stalin, however, eliminated eight of these families and nurtured only two, merging in-laws’ and sons’ families into one to perpetuate corruption while forgetting social justice. Minister Moorthy created several hurdles for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam conference, but the party administrators overcame them and united for the state’s success."
- 22 Aug 2025 4:57 PM IST
Political parties flay actor Vijay for targeting their leaders
Taking strong exception to the actor for addressing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin as "uncle", State Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru, said the actor has displayed low political standards. "He has stooped to a low standard in addressing a tall political leader who has been in politics for four decades and is the sitting Chief Minister as 'uncle'. The DMK backed by the people will give Vijay a fitting reply in the 2026 Assembly election," Nehru told reporters. "He was blabbering when he linked BJP to fascism. Probably, the script actor was delivering at the party conference was written by someone else," former Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan told reporters. READ STORY HERE
- 22 Aug 2025 4:11 PM IST
Man, who reaches Madurai for TVK conference, dies after fainting
A 33-year-old man, who came from Chennai, to attend TVK’s state conference in Madurai, was said to have fainted and died on Thursday. The deceased victim has been identified as Prabhakaran. The ill-fated victim travelled along with his friends in a van from Chennai on Wednesday night.
- 21 Aug 2025 6:22 PM IST
Vijay targets BJP, DMK, CM Stalin in no-holds barred speech
In his onslaught against the ruling party, the actor-politician alleged the DMK government has misled women, government staff, and various sections of the public with unfulfilled election promises, and also cited the ongoing Parandur airport protests and the farmer crisis. Directly addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the TVK chief asked, “I am speaking to you as a representative of the people. Did you come into power for the third time to work for the people, or to work against the Muslim minorities in the country?" READ FULL STORY HERE
- 21 Aug 2025 5:43 PM IST
Vijay speaks for 35 minutes at Madurai conference
The second State conference of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) was held in Madurai today. Addressing the gathering, TVK president Vijay has now concluded his speech. He spoke on the stage for a total of 35 minutes, beginning his address at 4.50 p.m. and ending at 5.25 pm.
- 21 Aug 2025 5:39 PM IST
TVK chief Vijay said, “All Tamil people are my blood relatives. I did not enter politics seeking refuge; I have come prepared with determination. I am the maternal uncle of every child in Tamil Nadu. The people of Tamil Nadu are a divine gift to me. I respect the people, I worship the people. I, your Vijay, have come to work sincerely for you. I will stand with the people all my life. I have entered politics only to do good. Serving the people is my duty.”
- 21 Aug 2025 5:39 PM IST
“I am the symbol of this party”
TVK president Vijay said that his party would never forge any backdoor alliance with the “fascist BJP,” adding that the NEET exam is being forced upon Tamil Nadu by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stubbornness. He accused the DMK of deceiving women, government employees, and the people at large with false promises.
Stating that TVK’s candidates will contest in all 234 constituencies, Vijay told the crowd, “In every constituency, it is your own people from your homes who will be the candidates. People should vote as though I myself am contesting. I am the symbol of this party.”
