Vijay’s TVK backs independent candidate in Salem’s Edappadi, calls for ‘fitting lesson’

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, actor-turned-politician Vijay has announced that his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), volition enactment an autarkic campaigner successful the high-profile Edappadi constituency.

The determination comes aft the party’s authoritative nominee was incapable to participate the fray.In a station connected X connected Sunday, Vijay urged voters successful Salem territory to backmost K Premakumar, a erstwhile head of his instrumentality club, describing him arsenic “our ain brother.” He said the enactment had “unanimously decided to support” Premakumar, who is contesting nether the “television set” symbol.“Therefore, I privation to pass you that, connected behalf of our Tamil Nadu Victory League, we person unanimously decided to enactment our erstwhile administrator, Mr K Premakumar,” Vijay said, appealing to voters to guarantee his triumph by a “massive margin,” arsenic reported PTI.The TVK main besides struck a crisp governmental tone, calling connected supporters to present a effect that would service arsenic a “fitting lesson” to those who allegedly tried to suppress the party’s awesome done “underhanded means.”

Nomination setback prompts strategical shift

Premakumar’s backing comes aft the Election Commission rejected TVK’s authoritative campaigner Arun Kumar’s information connected method grounds, forcing the enactment to recalibrate its strategy successful the constituency.

Premakumar is present being projected arsenic the party’s “candidate successful spirit.”The Edappadi Assembly spot is considered a stronghold of Edappadi K Palaniswami, the AIADMK wide caput and erstwhile main minister, making the contention politically significant.The improvement comes days aft Vijay unveiled TVK’s manifesto for the elections, outlining a scope of payment measures, including monthly fiscal assistance for women, interest-free loans for self-help groups, occupation instauration initiatives, and expanded healthcare coverage.Launched successful February 2024, TVK is contesting its archetypal Assembly elections, positioning itself arsenic a challenger to established Dravidian parties successful the state.