Sellur Raju downplays Vijay’s political entryFormer AIADMK minister and Madurai West MLA, Sellur K Raju, dismissed concerns about actor Vijay’s political aspirations, stating that the actor poses no threat to the AIADMK. Raju’s comments came on Tuesday during a human chain protest on Nethaji Road in Madurai, organized to condemn the DMK government for its property tax hike.Raju, a senior AIADMK leader, addressed reporters at the protest and downplayed the significance of Vijay’s newly-formed party, the Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (TVK). “If Udhayanidhi Stalin can become deputy chief minister, there is nothing wrong with Vijay aspiring to enter politics. But Vijay is not a threat to AIADMK, as most of the TVK members are former DMK functionaries,” he remarked.
Vijay’s political entry has generated considerable buzz, especially with his growing popularity among younger voters. However, Raju emphasized that the AIADMK remains strong and is unperturbed by the presence of new players in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. Raju also confirmed that the AIADMK would continue its protests against the DMK’s governance and had planned a hunger strike at Palanganatham on Wednesday.
In a related development, former AIADMK minister R B Udhayakumar also expressed skepticism about Vijay’s political prospects. He criticized the belief that Vijay’s cinematic popularity would easily translate into electoral success. “Vijay’s expectation of winning elections through his film charisma will not work in Tamil Nadu politics,” Udhayakumar stated. He also took aim at the ruling DMK, accusing it of prioritizing image-building through advertisements while neglecting public service, calling the party a “big zero” in governance.
On Tuesday, Udhayakumar was in Palanganatham to oversee preparations for the upcoming AIADMK hunger strike. The protest is part of the party’s broader efforts to challenge the DMK’s governance, particularly concerning the recent rise in property taxes.