Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay on Friday launched a fresh attack on the ruling political establishment in the state, targeting the DMK and AIADMK during a campaign meeting in Madurantakam ahead of the October 6 Assembly bypoll.
Vijay described the MK Stalin-led DMK as an “evil force” and alleged that the DMK and AIADMK were working together despite their longstanding political rivalry. He also alleged an understanding between the two Dravidian parties and the BJP.
The Madurantakam bypoll was necessitated after AIADMK MLA K Maragatham Kumaravel resigned from the Assembly and joined the TVK. The TVK has re-nominated Kumaravel from the constituency.
Vijay said the contest in Madurantakam was essentially a fight between the TVK and the DMK. Taking a swipe at the AIADMK, he questioned how its cadres could accept an alliance or understanding with a party that former leaders MGR and Jayalalithaa had described as an “evil force”.
“DMK was the enemy for MGR and Jayalalithaa and now for Vijay,” he said, according to remarks made at the campaign meeting.
Vijay also targeted the DMK over the language used by some of its leaders against him and women. He said he had remained patient when his mother was criticised but could not accept remarks directed at women in Tamil Nadu.
He accused the DMK leadership and members of Stalin’s family of making inappropriate remarks and said people were watching such statements closely.
“DMK has taken a dangerous weapon,” Vijay said, referring to what he described as the opposition party’s attacks against him.
VIJAY RAISES VEERAMANI POCSO CASE
A major part of Vijay’s attack centred on the POCSO case involving granite businessman R Veeramani. Vijay said a man had been “destroying the lives of children” for years and questioned why the previous government had not spoken about the case.
He claimed that a complaint had been lodged during the previous DMK regime but that the “entire crime and its history” had been buried.
“Stalin sir, open your mouth,” Vijay said while questioning the former government’s handling of the case and asking whether there had been an understanding between the DMK and AIADMK over the matter.
The case involving Veeramani was registered in 2025 after police received a pen drive containing video footage purportedly showing the sexual assault of a minor.
Police later sought to close the case, but a special POCSO court rejected the closure report and directed further investigation.
The renewed investigation subsequently led to the arrest of Veeramani and two associates.
The investigation has since widened, with police examining the conduct of officials involved in the earlier probe and investigating fresh leads.
Vijay’s remarks came a day after DMK chief MK Stalin rejected allegations that his government had shielded Veeramani. Stalin described the claims as “false and defamatory” and said no order had been issued by his government to protect anyone in the case.
The DMK has also maintained that the case was not closed under its government, saying the investigation was kept pending for further evidence after police were unable to establish sufficient evidence at that stage.
AADHAV ARJUNA QUESTIONS PREVIOUS PROBE
Aadhav Arjuna, Minister for Public Works and Sports Development in the Government of Tamil Nadu, who also addressed the gathering, questioned why the police had earlier sought to close the Veeramani case.
Arjuna claimed that the FIR had been registered when Stalin was Chief Minister and asked why the investigation subsequently reached the stage of a closure report. He questioned whether political or family pressure had played a role.
He also claimed that the new TVK government had acted against officials in connection with the matter and said Vijay’s government would pursue the case to establish the facts.
The claims about political or family pressure have not been established as facts. The DMK has rejected the accusation that its government shielded Veeramani.
‘WE ARE THE BABY OF TAMIL NADU’
Vijay also hit back at criticism that the TVK was a relatively new political force.
Responding to remarks that he had entered politics only two years ago, Vijay said: “Yes, we are baby, but baby of Tamil Nadu.”
He said the party had secured around 35 per cent of the vote share and won as a single party, referring to the TVK’s performance in the 2026 Assembly election.
Vijay also sought to position his administration as a government of the people, saying, “This government is not Vijay government. It is the government of the people and democracy.”
He defended the government’s decision to borrow money, saying that the borrowing was being done for the people and that schemes and commitments would be implemented gradually.
Taking another swipe at the DMK, Vijay asked Stalin why he spoke as though he was the “owner of Tamil Nadu”.
He also claimed that attempts were being made inside the Assembly to prevent him from speaking and said this had forced him to raise his voice outside the House.
– Ends
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