A former IRS officer, ex-judge and MLAs who had represented other parties in the past have joined Vijay's TVK.
Published Jun 12, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2025 | 9:00 AM
TVK leader Vijay. (Screengrab)
Synopsis: Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is welcoming several personalities of late, raising the question whether they could contribute to the party’s electoral fortunes. With most of them having little or no grassroots-level connection, they may not contribute much to the party, except for creating a temporary media hype.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), recently witnessed the entry of several notable individuals, including a retired judge, an IRS officer, and former MLAs from various parties.
In Indian politics, it’s not unusual to see leaders praise a party one day, only to jump ship the next and criticize that very same party. Against this backdrop, the steady stream of leaders from various political backgrounds joining TVK has sparked a debate.
While some party members hail it as proof of Vijay’s rising influence and call it a ‘triumph of his vision,’ others wonder: Is this genuine ideological alignment, or just political opportunism?
Among the key additions is KG Arunraj, an IRS officer from Tamil Nadu, who had recently voluntarily retired from service. Raj was reportedly involved in advising the TVK on its registration with the Election Commission and other formal matters. He has now formally joined the party and has been appointed as the party’s Propaganda and Policy General Secretary.
Others who have joined include former judge C Subash from Nagercoil and N Maria Wilson, the managing director of the Jeppiar Institute of Technology.
The list also includes several former MLAs:
David Selvin, who was active in student and Tamil nationalist movements during the 1990s, served as the DMK MLA from Thiruvaikundam between 1996 and 2001. Though he was given another opportunity to contest, he couldn’t secure a win. He continued in the DMK until 2016 without major party roles, then moved to AIADMK, but again found little political traction. After briefly rejoining the DMK following its 2021 electoral win, he has now aligned himself with TVK.
Speaking to South First, Selvin said his decision was inspired by Vijay’s leadership. “Tamil Nadu has been lacking a strong leader like J Jayalalithaa. Vijay has emerged as a leader now, and I have joined to work with him,” he said.
He added, “I didn’t join TVK expecting a position. I believe in Thalapathy Vijay’s principles. I’ve always opposed dynastic politics and corruption, even during my time in the DMK. I see Vijay’s ideology, which blends Dravidian and Tamil nationalist ideas, as a path forward.”
From AIADMK to TVK via BJP
Rajalakshmi, a long-time AIADMK member, served as MLA from Mylapore during 2011–2016 under former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. After over 26 years in AIADMK, she briefly joined the BJP and worked with them for about a year. She has now joined TVK.
“When I left AIADMK, I was serving as Women’s Wing Secretary. At the BJP, despite spending a year, I wasn’t given major responsibilities. But for me, public service matters more than designations,” she told South First.
When asked about TVK’s opposition to the BJP’s ideology, she appeared surprised: “Oh really?” Asked whether she would now speak against the BJP, she avoided a direct answer and simply said, “The party’s stand is my stand.”
Interestingly, she also compared national and regional parties, saying, “In AIADMK, we could meet Jayalalithaa and directly voice concerns. That’s not possible in national parties like the BJP.” She said she’s not expecting any post, but would welcome the opportunity if offered.
Arunraj was reportedly involved in the 2020 Income Tax raid on Vijay’s residence. When journalists asked him about the raid, he declined to comment.
Senior journalist AS Panneerselvan said this evasiveness damages public trust. “If you can’t answer basic questions, how will you function as a credible politician?” he asked.
Panneerselvan pointed out that no political party can grow without a strong grassroots infrastructure. “This is true for the DMK, the Left, even the Congress. In the 1960s, leaders like Srinivasa Rao built cadre-based strength for the Left. DMK fused cultural pride and self-respect with economic concerns to build a robust base. Even the Congress had strong grassroots support until the 1970s,” he said. “Over time, that eroded.”
He felt the TVK must learn this lesson early on.
Panneerselvan also noted that none of the recent inductees are currently politically relevant, and most were denied tickets or posts in their original parties. “These are not figures like KN Nehru or CV Shanmugam. It’s not clear what they bring to the table.”
When asked if TVK is trying to replicate BJP’s move to bring in former IPS officer K Annamalai as its state leader, Panneerselvan responded, “Unlike TVK, BJP has a working ground structure. Leaders like Nainar Nagendran, Pon Radhakrishnan, and Tamilisai Soundararajan can all mobilise grassroots support. Can TVK say the same?”
Tamil Nadu’s history has several examples of media-hyped stars who failed politically, Panneerselvan observed. “We’ve seen this before—Sivaji Ganesan, Bhagyaraj, T Rajendar, Vijayakanth. All were hyped. All eventually faded. Vijay is getting the same kind of media buzz—but will it last?”
Asked about comparisons with MGR, he said, “MGR was the third-most powerful leader in the DMK before launching his party. He had an existing organisational structure when he broke away. Can Vijay say the same? What grassroots structure does he have? Has he even entered the field yet?”
Recently, Vijay has been awarding scholarships to meritorious students through the Vijay Education Awards, prompting some party members to refer to him as “Junior Kamaraj.”
Panneerselvan dismissed the comparison: “Just as Vijayakanth was once called the ‘Karuppu MGR,’ Vijay being called ‘Little Kamaraj’ means nothing. Kamaraj was a national figure. Vijay has no such standing.”
He added, “Vijayakanth too got huge media attention when he launched his party. But after two elections, he couldn’t maintain momentum. I believe Vijay will face a similar disappointment in the upcoming election.”
Referring to Vaiko, he said, “Even he couldn’t succeed electorally despite marching across Tamil Nadu and holding massive rallies. History tells us that mass mobilisation, not media hype, wins elections.”
“If Vijay thinks he can win by roping in disconnected figures without any public connection, he’s in for a rude shock in this election,” he added.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
