Synopsis
Tamil superstar and TVK leader Vijay will lead a protest in Cuddalore to address the arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. The protest aims to demand urgent action from the central government to protect the rights of the fishing community.Key Takeaways
- Vijay leads protest against the Sri Lankan Navy's actions.
- TVK condemns violations of fishermen's rights.
- Central government urged to protect fishing livelihoods.
- Large mobilization drive to rally fishermen in Tamil Nadu.
- Vijay positions himself for the 2026 Assembly elections.
Chennai, March 9 (NationPress) Tamil superstar-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder-president Vijay is set to spearhead a significant protest in Cuddalore, advocating for a definitive resolution to the ongoing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.
As per TVK sources, the party has already filed a request with the Cuddalore police to obtain permission for the protest, which aims to spotlight the persistent challenges faced by Tamil fishermen who inadvertently enter Sri Lankan waters.
The TVK has vehemently denounced the Sri Lankan Navy's continuous arrests and alleged mistreatment of Tamil Nadu fishermen, deeming it a severe infringement of their rights.
The party has urged the central government to take prompt and effective measures to safeguard the livelihoods of the fishing community. To ensure the protest runs smoothly, TVK has established a special coordination committee composed of senior district officials.
The demonstration is anticipated to see participation from prominent TVK leaders, including N. Anand and Aadhav Arjuna, along with other senior state officials. Moreover, the party has initiated a large-scale mobilization campaign to encourage fishermen from all over Tamil Nadu to join the protest.
A senior TVK leader informed IANS that an official announcement regarding the date and additional details of the protest will be made shortly. Vijay formally launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam on February 2, 2024, positioning it as a movement against corruption and divisive politics. Despite opting not to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he confirmed that TVK would participate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
On August 22, 2024, Vijay revealed the party's flag and anthem at TVK’s headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai. This was followed by TVK’s first political conference on October 27, 2024, in Vikravandi, Villupuram district, where approximately three lakh individuals attended. The enormous turnout caused significant traffic disruptions in Vikravandi and Mundiyampakkam, necessitating authorities to reroute vehicles on the Chennai-Tiruchi National Highway.
During the conference, Vijay fiercely criticized both the DMK and the BJP, labeling the BJP as his ideological opponent and the DMK as his political rival. He accused the DMK of being a family-managed party that exploits the “Dravidian” identity for personal gain while denouncing the BJP for promoting divisive politics.
In retaliation, the DMK accused Vijay of being the “C team” of the BJP, implying that he was indirectly endorsing the saffron party. Vijay's influence in Tamil Nadu's political arena has been consistently rising, particularly since his fan organization, the All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (AITVMI), secured 115 out of the 169 seats it contested in the 2021 Tamil Nadu local body elections.
In contrast, Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) failed to win any seats, further solidifying Vijay’s political stature. Vijay has also made it clear that TVK will only collaborate with parties that recognize his leadership.
Political analysts view this stance as a clear signal that Vijay is positioning himself as a strong candidate for the Chief Minister’s role in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
