Vijay acting in line with BJP’s plan to gain minority support in T.N.: Speaker Appavu

After quitting his acting career, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder-president Vijay is now “acting according to the plans of the BJP,” which has fielded him in Tamil Nadu to attract the votes of the minorities who traditionally support the DMK, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker M. Appavu has alleged.

During an informal chat with mediapersons after distributing free laptops to students in Tirunelveli on Wednesday (January 28, 2026), Mr. Appavu said the BJP and the TVK were enacting a well-planned drama in Tamil Nadu, trying to break the minorities’ confidence in the DMK. After quitting acting, Mr. Vijay is now acting according to the BJP’s plans, as outlined in a well-rehearsed screenplay, he alleged.

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“In North India, the BJP has fielded [All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader] Owaisi to avert the polarisation of Muslim votes against it. The BJP has roped in Mr. Vijay in Tamil Nadu to perform the role of Mr. Owaisi to get the votes of the minorities. However, Muslims and Christians are aware of these plans and they will never support Mr. Vijay,” Mr. Appavu said.

On Governor’s address

Regarding the Governor-government tussle in Tamil Nadu, the Speaker said R.N. Ravi was accorded due respect by everyone in the Assembly when he was in the House recently for the customary Governor’s address that marks the commencement of Assembly’s first session of the calendar year. Only after the Governor gave his consent, the Governor’s address was printed, Mr. Appavu said.

“The Governor can only read the text printed by the government after giving his consent and he cannot speak on his own in the Assembly. While everyone in the House, including the Speaker and the Chief Minister, strictly adhered to the democratic practices, the Governor wanted to break the tradition for obvious reasons,” Mr. Appavu said.