By Lakshmi Jyothish
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Joseph Vijay on Saturday made a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of neglecting the concerns of Tamil Nadu’s fishing community.
Addressing the party workers during a campaign stop, Vijay criticised Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over the restrictions placed on opposition rallies, calling them undemocratic. Adding that Stalin’s overseas trips to attract foreign investments had little impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.
“On the fishermen’s issues, all we see from the Chief Minister are letters being written. There is no concrete action to protect their livelihoods or ensure their safety at sea,” charged Vijay.
Turning towards the BJP, Vijay said that the party was pursuing what he termed as “politics of exclusion” by sidelining marginalized groups and failing to provide meaningful solutions for the state’s coastal communities. “The fishing community feels left out of both the Centre’s and the State’s policies,” he said, urging his supporters to rally behind TVK as a genuine alternative.
The criticism comes with the ongoing tensions in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. The opposition parties are noted to have been stepping up attacks ahead of the upcoming elections.
Vijay, who has been slowly expanding TVK’s local presence, said that his party is the voice of the community “ignored by both national and regional parties”.
The DMK has continued to stand by Stalin’s foreign tours, defending them as essential for job creation and economic growth. The BJP, on the other hand, has continued its recluse, claiming that they have taken steps to secure the fishermen’s welfare through bilateral talks with Sri Lanka.
Vijay’s criticism on such matters reflects a broader mood of frustration among sections of the electorate.
As the campaign comes into full view, political commentators have begun to note that this disapproval of both the state and central leadership signals TVK’s intent to carve out space, making them a worthy opponent in Tamil Nadu politics.