Anna DMK hints at future alliance with Vijay’s TVK, avoids criticism of actor-politician

CHENNAI: Anna DMK has not ruled out a potential alliance with Tamilaka Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), the newly-formed political party led by actor Vijay. General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami has directed Anna DMK leaders to refrain from criticizing Vijay, signaling an openness to a partnership with TVK in the future, if not immediately.

This stance was bolstered after Vijay, while sharply criticizing the ruling DMK during TVK’s inaugural state conference, notably refrained from speaking against Anna DMK and even praised its founder, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). Palaniswami suggested that this was due to the work of Anna DMK, indirectly hinting at possible common ground between the two parties. When asked directly about an alliance with TVK, Palaniswami responded that it was “not yet time.”

Despite this, political analysts remain skeptical about the feasibility of such an alliance in the near term. Vijay, who positioned himself as a prospective chief ministerial candidate during the party’s launch, might face challenges aligning with Anna DMK, as Palaniswami is also considered a contender for the same role. Observers point out that the trajectory of an alliance could depend on the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election outcomes. If the DMK retains power and TVK captures around 10 percent of the vote, Vijay might be more inclined to work with Anna DMK. However, if TVK garners significant traction, the likelihood of an alliance may diminish.

Meanwhile, Vijay is preparing for a state tour in December to expand TVK’s presence across Tamil Nadu, beginning in Coimbatore on December 2 and culminating in a rally in Tirunelveli on December 27. The tour aims to communicate TVK’s ideology to the public and potentially attract leaders from other parties. Vijay announced that TVK will field candidates in every constituency in the 2026 assembly elections.

Vijay has also suggested November 1 be recognized as Tamil Nadu Day, to commemorate the state’s linguistic formation on that date in 1956. He described this move as a tribute to those who dedicated themselves to uniting Tamil-speaking people. Currently, the DMK government celebrates Tamil Nadu Day on July 18, the date in 1967 when former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai tabled a resolution to rename Madras State to Tamil Nadu. Vijay’s proposal, however, marks the first broad public demand from TVK since its founding conference, highlighting his efforts to reshape Tamil identity politics.