TVK Puducherry meet HIGHLIGHTS: Vijay accuses Centre of sidelining Puducherry, signals possible alliance moves

CHENNAI: Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay on Tuesday accused the BJP-led Union government of repeatedly sidelining the Puducherry administration, even as he avoided criticising Chief Minister N Rangaswamy of the NDA alliance. Tuesday's meeting was Vijay's first public meet since the Karur rally stampede that claimed 41 lives.

Addressing the crowd at Uppalam harbour grounds, Vijay praised the Chief Minister for providing adequate police protection and said the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu should take note. His remarks come amid speculation that TVK may explore an alliance ahead of the Puducherry Assembly elections, with general secretary N Anand, who earlier contested on an AINRC ticket, playing a key role.

Vijay said Puducherry’s long-standing demands, including the call for statehood endorsed 16 times by the Assembly, remained unattended in New Delhi. He criticised the absence of industrial revival, the failure to fill a ministerial vacancy after a corruption removal, and the lack of basic civic facilities in a major tourist centre. Highlighting financial strain due to dependence on ad hoc Central grants, he called for statehood, industrial expansion, revival of ration shops and better support for Karaikal fishermen, asserting that he would “always stand by the people of Puducherry.”