Thanjavur, 4 Mar

Appealing to Tamil Nadu voters to give him a chance to rule the State, TVK founder Vijay on Wednesday said the upcoming polls are not a mere election, but an "oceanic emotion" for him.

Sharpening his attack against DMK and its Chief Minister MK Stalin, he said that their assertion of forming the government for a second time in a row after the polls will not fructify as even late party patriarch M Karunanidhi could not achieve it.

Addressing a party functionaries' meet here, the TVK chief appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to give him a chance in the coming elections.

"It may seem an ordinary election for others, but for me and the people loving me, it is an emotion, an oceanic emotion," Vijay said about the Assembly polls, likely in April.

On Wednesday, in addition to his trademark white shirt and mild brown pants, the actor-politician was seen wearing a green towel around his neck, signifying the agrarian context of this Cauvery delta district, often called Tamil Nadu's "rice bowl". Farmers and farmer unions traditionally sport this green towel.

He further said that the TVK's election symbol "whistle" should resonate in every house and in every polling booth across Tamil Nadu and ensure a resounding victory for the party.

"Delhi team cannot defeat Tamil Nadu team even in cricket," he said and highlighted IPL franchise CSK's 'whistle podu' slogan. Incidentally, one of his hit numbers include the sing "Whistle podu" from his 2024 movie GOAT.

He lashed out at the ruling DMK, yet again branding it as "theeya sakthi," (evil force), saying even children have started calling the Dravidian party by that name.

Slamming the ruling DMK dispensation on sand mining, Vijay referred to the Madras High Court ruling ordering a probe by the CBI to ascertain a nexus between politicians, government officials and private miners in the massive mining of beach sand minerals and asked whether Stalin will deny all this. He sought to know from the CM, who was supporting the sand mafia and said the natural resources were fast getting depleted under the DMK rule and that the state will become completely bankrupt.

Targeting Stalin on the farmer's issue, Vijay said despite claiming to hail from the Cauvery Delta region, the CM had cases booked against the farmers for protesting against projects such as Parandur airport expansion near Chennai. But though he was not a farmer he sympathised with them and took up their cause as the airport expansion project affected farmer's livelihood.

"The DMK's plan is to lay foundation stones for major projects at the fag end of its rule and later claim it could not implement them as the party was defeated at the hustings," the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder claimed.

"If he (CM) had concern for the people, then he should have commenced the major schemes immediately after he came to power. People were not fools to believe whatever the Chief Minister says," Vijay said and accused Stalin of doing precious little to protect the state fishermen frequently being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Stalin dreamt of returning to power, but history says otherwise. "It is bigger than the length of the great wall of China; even his father (Karunanidhi) could not succeed in winning second term in office in succession," the actor said.

He claimed that politics was not about "collection" but a means to work for the people and it was the service motive that made him take a plunge in politics. He accused the DMK and opposition AIADMK of allegedly entering into a tacit agreement to check his political growth.

While one enforced SOP and laid down stringent conditions in the wake of the Karur tragedy (fatal stampede at TVK rally), the other criticised him.

"They hope to come to power in the state alternatively. This started with Karur and to the release of Jana Nayagan film. And I thank those who supported me for the film release," the TVK founder said. He also thanked Stalin for voicing his support in the issue, although not so assertively.

He took strong exception to the DMK's move to install a bronze idol for Karunanidhi in the southern Tirunelveli district and said the move was tantamout to using people's "ghee to make sweets."

"Stalin sir, find means to feed the people first and then think of the statue. The DMK rule is not model governance but a corrupt regime. Do you want this corrupt rule to continue or Vijay to form the government? Do you want Vijay or anti-people Stalin rule?" he asked at the meeting in an open area covering ten acres of land at Ayyasamipatti near Sengipatti village, and the party supporters loudly replied "Vijay."