Tamil Nadu polls: Vijay rejects ‘four-corner’ contest, says fight between TVK, DMK

TVK chief Vijay on Sunday dismissed claims of a four-way contest in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, claiming the real battle was between his party and the ruling DMK, while outlining a governance model centered on technology and service delivery, PTI reported.Addressing a rally, Vijay said, “This is not a 4-corner or 40-corner battle. There are only two sides here: one is TVK and the other is DMK. Do you want an anti-people Stalin government, or a people-loving Vijay? That is what this election is all about.”The actor-politician also cycled at the venue as part of his outreach activities. An earlier similar exercise at Kalakudy turned chaotic, but the arrangements at Konyakumari ensured better crowd management.Vijay put forward a vision of “good governance in the 21st century”, proposed the establishment of India’s first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, as well as plans to establish artificial intelligence cities and dedicated artificial intelligence universities, and said that the industry will contribute $1.7 trillion to India by 2035.He also proposed the ‘Tamil Nadu Citizen Privilege Card’ to ensure door-to-door benefits without the need for intermediaries. “This is not a story told by Mr. Stalin; this is scientifically possible. The current system is not ‘good governance’ but ‘harassment’. Bribery is not limited to officials; part of it goes to ministers. We will break this chain,” he said.The TVK chief said the Right to Services Bill will be enacted within six months of assuming office and announced the launch of the ‘Vettri Tamil Nadu’ super app to digitize public services such as ration cards and driving licenses.On the state’s finances, Vijay claimed that Tamil Nadu’s debt has exceeded Rs 1,050 crore and claimed that borrowings in the past five years exceeded those in previous decades. “Every rupee spent on interest is a rupee stolen from children’s education and family healthcare,” he said.He also proposed the establishment of a “people’s forum” to enable digital participation, where petitions with 500,000 verified signatures would force discussion in the state parliament.Vijay urged voters to support his party and called for a “whistle revolution”, referring to the party’s symbol. “I came for you, endured all the pain, and I will never lie to you. Give your brother a chance,” he said.However, the campaign has also encountered disruptions, with criticism of meeting cancellations and scheduling disruptions. Vijay disappointed his supporters by canceling a speech scheduled for April 11 in Kalakudy.Later, TVK general secretary N Anand clarified that the Kanyakumari rally would go ahead and urged supporters not to follow Vijay’s convoy to avoid overcrowding and accidents. He also recommended that vulnerable groups participate virtually.Vijay is scheduled to address a rally at Aranthangi in Pudukkottai on April 14, but the event is yet to be decided. Elections to the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held on April 23.