Speculation over a potential tie-up between the BJP-led NDA and actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls has almost completely fizzled out. This follows a controversy triggered by TVK General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna’s remarks against superstar Rajinikanth. Both AIADMK and BJP leaders are now openly criticizing TVK functionaries, while the ruling DMK and Rajinikanth himself have not yet responded.
Rumors of backchannel talks had gained traction recently, with reports suggesting the NDA offered TVK up to 80 seats and the Deputy Chief Minister’s post to form a united front against the DMK. Some claims even suggested Vijay asked for the Chief Minister’s post. However, the alliance buzz ended when Aadhav Arjuna claimed Rajinikanth quit politics due to threats from the DMK’s first family a comment intended to highlight Vijay’s “mental strength.” AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami slammed the comments as politically indecent, stating that Rajinikanth is a respected figure and his choice to stay out of politics must be respected. BJP leader K. Annamalai also dismissed the claims, praising Rajinikanth’s 50-year career as a testament to his resilience. With the alliance arithmetic shifting, Tamil Nadu is now heading toward a four-cornered contest involving the DMK, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, Vijay’s TVK, and Seeman’s NTK. (With input from NDTV)
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