In a sharp critique of actor-turned-politician Vijay, BJP State Coordinating Committee Convener H Raja suggested that Vijay, instead of echoing DMK ideologies, should formally join the party rather than creating a “duplicate version.” The comments came after Vijay’s nascent political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), made remarks against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.Speaking to reporters at Kamalalayam, the Tamil Nadu BJP headquarters, Raja asserted that TVK’s stance on issues like NEET and language policy aligns closely with the DMK’s. “If he [Vijay] truly seeks to abolish NEET, he should understand that it was introduced by a DMK minister during the UPA II regime,” Raja remarked.
In response to claims that TVK acts as a ‘B’ team of the BJP, Raja clarified that Vijay’s actions and rhetoric reflect otherwise. “Vijay called us the ‘Ondriya Arasu’ (Union Government) at his state conference, which contradicts the notion of him aligning with the BJP,” Raja noted, dismissing suggestions that TVK serves BJP interests.
Raja also commented on the narrative around political alignments in Tamil Nadu, noting that similar claims were previously made regarding Seeman’s NTK. “First, NTK was labeled as the BJP’s ‘B’ team; now, Vijay’s party carries the same label. How many ‘B’ teams can we afford?” he quipped.
Raja further suggested that the ruling DMK is trying to gain support from actor Ajith Kumar as a countermeasure to Vijay’s political venture. According to Raja, the Dravidian party is actively seeking an influential figure to compensate for the potential political gap created by Vijay’s entry into the political sphere.
The BJP leader directed strong criticism toward the DMK government, accusing it of misusing funds from Hindu temples, particularly through the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) Department. “The ruling government has been dipping into temple funds for activities unrelated to religious purposes,” Raja claimed.
Referencing Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks on Sanatana Dharma, Raja criticized Udhayanidhi’s visit to Palani Murugan Temple, labeling it contradictory to his past statements. “A person who openly vowed to eradicate Sanatana Dharma is now visiting temples. If this is not hypocrisy, why is the DMK using temple funds for such purposes?” he questioned.
Raja further alleged that funds from the HR&CE were allocated to prepare for Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s upcoming visit to Thanjavur on November 7. According to Raja, these resources were inappropriately utilized for welcoming Udhayanidhi, showcasing what he called a disregard for religious funds.
In his closing remarks, Raja referred to the DMK as a “fascist government,” accusing it of undermining democratic values and religious rights. The veteran BJP leader’s comments reflect the intensifying political dynamics in Tamil Nadu as parties and emerging figures like Vijay compete for influence, further polarizing the political landscape ahead of the next state elections.