Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Defends Party Amid Criticism

In a recent assembly speech, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay robustly defended his party, Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), against critics who dismiss it as merely an 'actor's party.' He highlighted the party's electoral successes and addressed pressing issues such as the NEET examination and the imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states. Vijay emphasized the struggles faced by his party and reiterated the need for a fairer educational system. His remarks reflect a commitment to addressing the concerns of Tamil Nadu's citizens while asserting the integrity of his political agenda.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 23, 2026, 12:26 IST

Vijay Responds to Critics of His Party

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay of Tamil Nadu has firmly addressed critics who labeled his party, 'Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam' (TVK), as merely an 'actor's party.' During a speech in the assembly on Tuesday morning, he highlighted the party's achievements in the upcoming elections, reminding detractors of TVK's success. In his compelling address, he tackled various issues, including the imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states by the central government and the demand for the abolition of NEET.

Vijay emphasized that both his party and he have faced numerous conspiracies and restrictions, asserting that neither will fade away. He remarked, 'We did not gain power easily. Only we know the struggles we endured to earn a place in the hearts of the Tamil people. Some pretend not to understand and criticize us, saying, 'He is just an actor, and the party is merely an actor's party.'

The Chief Minister further stated that they do not concern themselves with such criticisms. 'Our politics is clean. We received 35 percent of the votes. Some claim we came to power too easily, but we faced conspiracies and restrictions. We have confronted everything, and today we stand here. A long journey still lies ahead.' Regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding NEET (National Entrance Eligibility Test), which serves as the sole qualifying exam for medical course admissions in the country, Vijay argued that the system fosters inequality and reiterated his call for its abolition.

In recent years, the NEET examination has been at the center of controversies, including student suicides due to exam pressure and question paper leaks, which have tarnished the credibility of medical education in the country. Tamil Nadu has consistently demanded the cancellation of the exam and the allocation of seats based on 12th-grade marks. On the contentious issue of imposing Hindi—a sensitive topic in the southern state that has previously sparked violent riots—the new Chief Minister asserted that the current two-language policy, which includes Tamil (as the state language) and English (as a global language), is sufficient.