C. Joseph Vijay Endorses Independent Candidate After TVK Nominee’s Disqualification
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chennai, April 19 (NationPress) In a notable turn of events leading up to the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, C. Joseph Vijay, President of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has thrown his weight behind an Independent candidate in the Edappadi Assembly constituency of Salem district following the disqualification of the party’s official candidate.
This decision follows the rejection of the nomination papers submitted by the TVK candidate for the Edappadi seat during the scrutiny process.
In light of this setback, Vijay declared that TVK would now support Independent candidate Premkumar, who is actively contesting from Edappadi.
In a message posted on X, Vijay referred to Premkumar as a close ally and a past administrator of his fan club, calling him a “brother.”
He emphasized that the party reached a unanimous decision to back Premkumar given the circumstances, encouraging party members, supporters, and voters in the Edappadi area to unite behind him.
Vijay urged the electorate to cast their votes for Premkumar using the “television set” symbol, assigned to him by the Election Commission, and highlighted the symbol’s serial number on the ballot, asking voters to recognize and support it to help secure Premkumar’s win.
“While we are unable to contest directly due to our candidate’s nomination being rejected, we regard Premkumar as our own representative in this constituency,” Vijay remarked in his statement.
He further called upon TVK executives and members to join forces to achieve a significant victory for the Independent candidate.
The actor-turned-politician also made a subtle criticism of those he blamed for attempting to undermine the party’s electoral chances. He asserted that Premkumar’s success in Edappadi would serve as a “lesson” to those who sought to impede the party’s symbol and disrupt its electoral efforts.
The Edappadi constituency, currently held by senior AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is poised for an intense contest, with the entry of TVK-supported Independent candidate adding a fresh dynamic to the electoral fray.
As campaigning approaches its final stages, Vijay’s endorsement is expected to invigorate grassroots supporters and impact voter behavior in the constituency.