Before the election, TVK leaders, including Vijay, did not criticize the AIADMK at public rally stages or during campaigns; instead, they kept praising M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa, who are seen as the symbols of the AIADMK. TVK had been using such a strategy to sharpen its anti-DMK stance and attract the votes of AIADMK sympathizers, who are weakened by internal divisions.
That strategy also helped TVK in the election. The same tactic used at party public meetings has now begun to be used by TVK in the Assembly as well. TVK’s plan to swallow the AIADMK whole has begun to extend all the way to the Fort.
Will Chief Minister Vijay’s master plan help TVK?
The budget session has been going on for five days. In it, the way TVK’s ministers respond to the opposition can be seen in two different ways. If DMK MLAs raise any criticism, they immediately interrupt, give a reply, and also level sharp criticisms in return.
At the same time, when AIADMK MLAs speak, TVK ministers do not interrupt them often. Even if they do interrupt, they give a data-backed response to whatever the issue is and then sit down. (The argument between Edappadi Palaniswami and Aadhav Arjuna on 11.08.26 is the only exception.)
Even during the Chief Minister’s reply in the Cauvery issue resolution, the Chief Minister’s speech was aimed only at provoking Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi. The Chief Minister did not even acknowledge the criticisms raised by former Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami.
'It would be right only if he responded to everyone’s views in the House,' Palaniswami himself said. But, the Chief Minister did not respond to Edappadi Palaniswami at all. This was the strategy used by TVK for the election. They would position the DMK alone as their main enemy and would not acknowledge any other party. The Chief Minister’s conduct in the House was also a continuation of that same strategy.
Similarly, at TVK’s second state conference held in Madurai before the election, Vijay had criticized Edappadi without naming him, saying, “M.G.R. was such a charismatic leader. But look at the party’s current leadership...” He also used M.G.R. as the face of his election campaign. Occasionally, he would also praise former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, saying, “Madam Jayalalithaa...”
Allowing Jayalalithaa’s picture to be placed in Sengottaiyan’s shirt pocket was also a move made with AIADMK sympathizers in mind. “AIADMK’s current leadership is weak. It refuses to embrace its workers and office-bearers. Don’t worry at all. I have a party called TVK.”
It is nothing but an extension of the AIADMK. I have deep affection for M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa. Their admirers will also receive due respect within the party. I have come as the reincarnation of M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa to defeat our sole enemy, the DMK.' This was the message Vijay kept trying to convey to AIADMK sympathizers. In the election, this strategy was about to pay off, which is why TVK also received 35% of the vote.
Even after the election, Vijay continues to be intent on establishing that TVK is yet another AIADMK. That is why he is welcoming AIADMK members into the party with a red carpet and giving them positions as well. Vijay wants to swallow and digest the AIADMK as much as possible and make its place in Tamil Nadu, which the AIADMK has held for half a century, his own. TVK is also using the Assembly as the arena for that effort.
When an AIADMK MLA, recalling Jayalalithaa’s rule, says, “What is happening now is Amma’s rule itself,” Minister Aadhav interrupts and speaks in the House. This is a huge statement. While a debate is going on in the House between O.P.S. and Sengottaiyan, Minister Rajmohan suddenly rises and speaks about the picture of Jayalalithaa in Sengottaiyan’s shirt pocket.
He strongly emphasizes that their leader agreed to keep it. Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, from time to time, shares his experiences of meeting M.G.R. and cleverly connects them with Chief Minister Vijay, placing M.G.R. and Vijay on the same level.
For anything Edappadi Palaniswami spoke about yesterday, the ministers did not react much. It is only when Edappadi starts talking about the issue of AIADMK MLAs resigning that Aadhav gets up. 'We are in agreement with the AIADMK that existed before 2017. We are not in agreement with the AIADMK after that.
"You have surrendered in Delhi. It is because they have no confidence in your leadership that AIADMK members are coming to TVK," Aadhav said very clearly. The Speaker, who removed from the records some remarks made by Edappadi Palaniswami criticizing TVK, did not remove Aadhav’s remarks about AIADMK from the records even after Edappadi Palaniswami requested it.
In the electoral arena, TVK is the only enemy for DMK. TVK positioned itself and kept AIADMK out of the contest. Even after the election, TVK continues the same game. In addition, Vijay wants to swallow AIADMK whole and stand as the single major force against DMK. That is why TVK members are singing the praises of M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa even in public forums.
Vijay said he would bring about a change like the one that happened in 1977. He has shown that he can do what he says. Now he wants to create the impression that we are the very reincarnation of that AIADMK party that brought about the change in 1977.
Will Edappadi’s AIADMK give a fitting counter to Vijay’s master plan? We’ll have to wait and see how the political game unfolds!