With a portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar towering behind him, calculated camera angles and an all-out attack on the Tamil Nadu government, Vijay’s second major political appearance proves to be a careful exercise in image-making. Proven. On December 6, Ambedkar’s death anniversary, Vijay launched the book ‘Erokkumaana Thalaivar Ambedkar (Ambedkar: The Leader of All)’ at a glamorous event in Chennai.
In Tamil Nadu, it is rare for a prominent actor – one of Vijay’s star powers – to openly praise Ambedkar as an ideological leader and scholar in front of a large audience. As in other parts of India, a deliberately reductive and racist view of Ambedkar as a Dalit symbol of the distant past persists in the state. However, many critics of Mr. ), he said that he has chosen to focus on bridging the gap between the two countries.
Tensions are further heightened by the fact that this is just the latest incident to fuel speculation about a possible rift between the two countries. Although this book was not the only cause, it played an important role in sparking such speculation. At the center of the turmoil are VCK chairman Mr. Vijay, Chidambaram MP Toru Thirumabalawan, and currently suspended VCK vice-president Ardhav Arjun.
“Erokkumaana Thalaivar Ambedkar” is jointly published by the popular Tamil magazine “Vikatan” and Ardhav’s political strategy firm “Voice of Commons.” The book includes essays by several eminent scholars such as Anand Teltumbde and an interview with Thirumavalavan.
However, despite Thirumavalavan’s contribution to the book, pressure had been mounting over the past few months to stop its publication after Vijay agreed to take part in the event. The actor-politician has declared the ruling party his “political enemy” and any event where Mr Thirumavalavan and Mr Vijay are likely to share the stage could prove embarrassing for the DMK.
Mr. Thirumabalawan ultimately skipped the event, but the argument escalated further during Mr. Vijay and Mr. Aadhav’s speeches. As the leader of the state’s largest Dalit-led party, Thirumabalawan’s non-participation in the publication of a prominent book on Ambedkar led to criticism of both the VCK and DMK.
Assembly elections are scheduled for 2026 in Tamil Nadu, and the issue of power-sharing has been at the center of several disputes between the two countries’ allies this year.
“Ambedkar would be embarrassed.”
In his approximately 13-minute speech, Vijay spoke about his experience reading Ambedkar’s Waiting for a Visa: The Experience of Untouchability. “As I read it, I wondered, ‘What did he give back to a world that gave him nothing but violence?’ It turned out to be the idea that we are all created equal. We are equal before the law. No matter what caste or religion we belong to, we are equal before the law. It was the cruelty of society that made Ambedkar fight for equality. ” he said. The actor-politician also requested the Union government to observe Ambedkar’s birthday, April 14, as ‘Democratic Rights Day’.
Barring a fleeting comment on Manipur criticizing the Union government for “ignoring” the violence, Vijay’s subsequent political criticism was limited to the DMK and its allies.
“What has this state government, which talks about social justice, done with Vengabayal?” asked Mr. Vijay, claiming that Mr. Ambedkar would be “ashamed” of the DMK’s handling of the crime. . He was referring to the caste atrocities that took place in Pudukkottai district in 2023. In this incident, members of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Muthalaiyar community allegedly mixed human feces in an overhead drinking water tank of a Dalit village. The continued inaction of the DMK government led to a boycott of voting in Vengabayar during the 2024 general elections.
Chief Minister Vijay claimed that Tamil Nadu had “many problems” and the only “long-term solution” was “to love our people and provide for their basic needs safely, fully and in a procedural manner”. “The government will meet the requirements,” he said.
He also made thinly veiled references to an entirely unrelated controversy over aid provided by his political party, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), to flood victims of November’s Cyclone Fengal. did. “Posting on social media or posing in public in the rain for the sake of custom is unbelievable,” he said, apparently referring to Prime Minister M K Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and It appears that he mentioned several state ministers. Oversaw ground relief operations in various districts in the aftermath of the cyclone. At the time, TVK was distributing aid to around 250 residents of TP Chathiram in Chennai. However, Mr. Vijay faced backlash for bringing residents to his homes instead of going directly to them to hand over relief materials.
Moving on to the topic of the 2026 assembly elections, Vijay issued a “warning” against the DMK, calling it “a government that does not know how to respect the sentiments of the people”. It is not possible to ensure the safety of the people, which is basic social justice. and is completely dependent on the mathematics of the alliance. ” He declared that in the next elections, voters in Tamil Nadu would undo the DMK’s calculations regarding allies.
However, he reserved his parting comments to address the controversy over Thirumavalavan’s absence. “I can imagine the pressure his alliance partners put on him to even attend a book launch event on Ambedkar, but what I can say is that his thoughts remain with us. I guess so.”
This ridicule fueled a flurry of speculation, and the next day Thirumavalavan said, “Vijay’s thoughts were not about the event, but seem to have been with me all along.” The VCK president also claimed that his decision was taken in the “interest of the party and the alliance” and based on the belief that “we should not fall prey to the machinations of the Sanatana Dharma forces”.
Clash between Vijay and DMK
It may be recalled that in June 2023, before officially entering politics, Vijay had encouraged his young fans to read about Ambedkar, Dravidian icon Periyar and late Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. The actor-politician, who spoke at an event organized by his fans association for top class 10 and 12 players at the time, had already hinted at the centre-left position his party would eventually adopt. Ta.
In February 2024, Mr. Vijay launched his own political party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). A few months later, in a speech at the party’s first national-level conference in Vikravandi, he said that the ideological leaders of the TVK were Ambedkar, Periyar, Kamaraj, Velu Nachiyar of Sivagangai – East India and the war. She announced that she would be the first queen to do so. The company and Anjarai Ammal, who participated in the independence struggle and is often referred to as the “Jhansi Rani of South India.”
In Vikravandi, Vijay attacked the DMK’s claims of social justice governance and accused the party of corruption and dynastic politics. He even came up with a typical Kollywood punchline to suggest that the state government’s ideological opposition to the Hindu right-wing stance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was just a cover. “If they are fascists, then are you payasam?” sneered Mr. Vijay, labeling the DMK as a “political enemy” and the BJP an “ideological enemy.”
Elorukmaana Thalaivar Ambedkar joined this fray. As TNM previously reported on PowerTrip, organizers first approached Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister MK Stalin, but neither responded. In April, an invitation was sent to Mr. Vijay as he had already started his party, which he accepted. The book was originally scheduled to be released on Ambedkar’s birthday, but it was finally released on December 6, his death anniversary.
Sources had earlier told TNM that Thirumavalavan had initially decided to attend the event irrespective of Vijay’s presence. However, statements made by the TVK president in the months leading up to the book’s release make that possibility increasingly unlikely.
Mr. Ardaf calls for “an end to dynastic politics”
If Mr. Vijay’s attack on the DMK on December 6 was from the perspective of a political opponent, Mr. Adhaf’s attack was from a place closer to home for the ruling party. “Preparations for the 2026 parliamentary elections should focus on ending dynastic politics,” Ardhav said at the launch. Ambedkar taught us that we are all created equal. Prime Ministers should not be appointed based on birth. Only idealistic leaders should hold power. ”
He also accused the DMK of functioning like a “monarchy” and promoting “dynastic politics”. “Monarchy can no longer be allowed to flourish in Tamil Nadu. Ambedkar’s ideology is needed today to dismantle the monarchist family,” he said.
Ardaf, the son-in-law of “lottery king” Santiago Martín, divided the VCK in two when he became vice president. It may also be noted that Adav hails from a non-Dalit community. Many felt that he had suddenly appeared on the scene and achieved such a high position within the party. His repeated statements against the DMK also irritated the VCK leadership.
Earlier, Aadhav had courted controversy over Udhayanidhi Stalin’s appointment as deputy chief minister in September. A few days before the official announcement, Aadhav said in an interview with a Tamil news channel, “If someone who came from the film industry four years ago can become a deputy CM, then Thirumavalavan, who has 40 years of experience as a politician.” “Why can’t I do it?” he asked. ? ”
Amid questions about possible trouble within the alliance, VCK leaders including Villupuram MP Ravikumar and deputy general secretary Vaniyarasu publicly criticized Ardhav. VCK distanced itself from him, saying his comments were his personal views and not those of the party. Thirumbalawan insisted there was no rift in the alliance.
“He (Ardhav) spoke without any ideological understanding. His words are harmful to the strength of our alliance and politics,” DMK deputy general secretary and Nilgiri MP A. Raja said in a press conference. Thirumabalawan is the only Dalit leader in India who says we must protect the constitution and fight against Sanata Dharma. I don’t think he would accept such a view.
On December 9, he was suspended by the VCK. Ardhav said in a statement after his suspension that he felt the same way the day he joined VCK. “Until all Dalits and other marginalized castes finally get their share of power, we must raise the slogan ‘share of government and share of power’,” he said.
Conflict over alliance between VCK and DMK
But Mr Arduff only doubled down on the ongoing controversy. Earlier, in September, Thirumavalavan’s official X handle shared a clip of his 1999 speech on the need for power sharing between allies. The post was deleted on the same day without explanation, and rumors of the alliance being dissolved spread.
On September 14, Thirumabalawan’s handle re-shared the deleted clip with the caption, “Since 1999, when VCK first stepped into electoral politics, our stance has been ‘The last democracy for the individual and power for the poor.”
At a press conference the next day, Thirumabalawan reiterated his position on power-sharing, adding that there was nothing wrong with talking about the issue. He said the original post had been deleted due to a “misunderstanding.” He mentioned the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had given ministerial slots to allies in 2014 as well, even though it had a majority on its own.
Meanwhile, doubts about rifts in the DMK-VCK alliance have surfaced several times already this year. The deaths due to liquor poisoning in Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Kallakurichi became public points of friction between the VCK and DMK. Following the deaths of 22 people in Villupuram and Chengalpattu and 65 in Kallakurichi due to methanol-laced arrack, the VCK demanded a complete ban on liquor in the state. In September, the VCK announced that it would hold an anti-liquor rally in Kallakurichi on October 2, MK Gandhi’s birthday. Speculation intensified after the party extended an invitation to the DMK’s main opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and Mr. Vijay’s newly launched TVK.
At that time, to quell rumors, the DMK had also announced that it would take part in the liquor rally.
However, with parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026 in Tamil Nadu, power-sharing issues remain at the center of several disputes over the alliance this year.
