Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 22 : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan on Thursday reacted sharply to actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay's statements that the DMK was in a "secret alliance" with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and called the actor-turned-politician "ignorant of politics".
Elangovan said the actor lacked awareness of the political and economic challenges the DMK government is facing due to GST and a decrease in funds, and added, "Vijay expressed his ignorance of politics. The DMK is doing a lot of things, but there are certain things we cannot do because after GST, the funds allocated to the state have significantly decreased."
He further added, "We have an opponent, the BJP, which is in power at the Centre. They are taking away industries coming to our state and relocating them to their states. There are many industries that have arrived, which Vijay is unaware of because he only thinks about the film industry, not manufacturing industries."
Reacting on the allegations of DMK having a secret alliance with BJP, Elangovan said, "I do not understand what Vijay meant when he said that we have not done anything for Tamil Nadu... He is not even watching our leaders' speeches against the BJP; he doesn't read newspapers or watch TV. He speaks, which is given to him in writing, and he just reads it out."
This statement of Elangovan came a day after TML chief Vijay addressed a rally in Madurai, where he attacked the DMK government and accused them of being in a secret alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"DMK does drama as if they are opposing the BJP," he said.
"DMK government is secretly maintaining ties with the BJP. When DMK is in the opposition, they shout 'Go back Modi!' but once they are in power, (they) welcome Modi. DMK has a secret alliance with the BJP. Does drama as if they are opposing the BJP," he added.
This comes as Vijay intends to present his party, TVK, as a third front in Tamil Nadu politics, an alternative to both the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK. The TVK will be contesting the Tamil Nadu assembly elections for the first time since its founding in 2024. The state elections are scheduled to be held in 2026.