TVK Maanaadu: The preparations for the much-anticipated state conference of actor Vijay’s newly-formed political outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), are nearing completion. The conference, scheduled for Sunday, marks a significant political debut for Vijay as he aims to make an impact in northern Tamil Nadu—a stronghold of the DMK and its ally VCK.
Officials from the police, public works, and electricity departments conducted an inspection of the conference venue on V Salai near Vikravandi, ensuring all arrangements are in place. Preparatory work, which began with a ‘bhoomi puja’ on October 4, included land leveling and the construction of a temporary road to facilitate access.
Ahead of the conference, Vijay penned a letter to his supporters, emphasising the importance of maintaining "utmost political discipline" during the event. In a social media post, the actor urged his fans to avoid two-wheelers for safety reasons and to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and police protocols. Reports suggest that over 2 lakh people are expected to attend the event, making it a significant political gathering.
The venue prominently features cutouts of prominent social reformers and political icons such as EVR Periyar, K Kamaraj, Tamil Annai, Velu Nachiyar and BR Ambedkar, reflecting TVK’s ideological alignment.
According to Deccan Herald, as part of the conference, Vijay is likely to use the occasion to announce a temporary farewell to his cinema career, with plans to step away from films starting February 2025, after completing his final project. This move is aimed at dedicating his focus to preparing TVK for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
In August 2024, Vijay unveiled the party flag of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam—a two-colored design featuring elephants on both sides and a peacock surrounded by stars at the center. Earlier, in February 2024, the actor officially launched TVK and declared his intention to contest the 2026 elections, aiming to carve a political space in Tamil Nadu’s dynamic political landscape.
"We are excited for the conference as he is entering politics, we are waiting for his speech tomorrow. We don't want to compare him (Vijay) with anyone, he is unique," said Mohana Priya, a fan of actor Vijay, who has come from Bengaluru to witness the first state conference of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
Meanwhile, Vijay joins a long list of Tamil film actors who have transitioned into politics, following in the footsteps of legends like M G Ramachandran, J Jayalalithaa, Sivaji Ganesan, Vijayakanth, and Kamal Haasan.