By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and actor Vijay, in the second leg of his State-wide political tour on Saturday (September 20, 2025), questioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s claims about attracting investments through his foreign visits, and asked whether the trips were “to bring investment to the State or to secure personal investments abroad.’’

Criticising the BJP and the DMK on issues concerning the fishing community in the State, Mr. Vijay said the BJP was engaged in “politics of exclusion,” pointing out that fishermen from other States were referred to as “Indian,” while those from Tamil Nadu were singled out as “Tamil fishermen.” He also charged that Mr. Stalin only writes letters on fishermen’s issues, but takes no concrete action.

Campaign restrictions

Addressing a large gathering at the Puthur roundabout near the Anna Statue in Nagapattinam, Mr. Vijay also accused the Chief Minister of indirectly threatening him by imposing restrictions on his campaign and hampering it.

“We are told how to sit inside the bus, how high to raise our hands, and are allotted congested spaces instead of open grounds. I am asking directly — are you threatening me, Chief Minister sir?” he asked, adding that he would not be intimidated. “Instead of being a bogeyman, face me directly in the elections,” he said. He also apologised to the people of Perambalur district, whom he could not meet last week due to certain “restrictions.”

Recounting incidents from his first campaign week, he said in Tiruchi, his speaker wire was allegedly cut, and in Ariyalur, there was a power outage before his arrival. “Would such treatment be meted out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or an RSS leader? No, because there is a hidden relationship between them [DMK and BJP],” he charged.

Explaining his schedule, Mr. Vijay said he preferred weekends to avoid inconvenience to the public. Expressing his happiness at starting this phase of his campaign from Nagapattinam, Mr. Vijay said the district symbolised the working class through its fisheries and farming communities and represented a multicultural and secular ethos.

He said his political entry was not new, recalling that he had been voicing the concerns of fishermen since 2011 and had consistently supported the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. Blaming the DMK government for Nagapattinam’s underdevelopment, he cited persistent drinking water shortages, lack of a fish processing centre, poor condition of the bus stand, vacancies in the maternity ward at Nagore Andavar Government Hospital, and paddy left to soak in the open at direct purchase centres (DPCs) without adequate storage facilities. He also urged the regulation of prawn farms to protect traditional fisherfolk and criticised the failure to develop Velankanni and Nagore as tourist destinations.

Earlier, Mr. Vijay landed at Tiruchi airport at 9.30 a.m., travelled by private vehicle to Tiruvarur, and then boarded his campaign van. Though the police had permitted him to speak between 12.35 p.m. and 1 p.m., his address was delayed following last-minute changes in the permitted route. He addressed the gathering from 1.32 p.m. to 1.52 p.m.

After speaking at Nagapattinam, Mr .Vijay proceeded to Tiruvarur district.