CHENNAI: Veteran politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Administrative Committee chief coordinator KA Sengottaiyan on Saturday asserted that party president Vijay is emerging as Tamil Nadu's next major political force and claimed that only he has the capacity to dislodge the ruling DMK in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, Sengottaiyan dismissed speculation about his entry to the DMK and launched a sharp attack on the ruling party and the opposition NDA.
"Vijay was seen only as a hero on screen. In the days ahead, he will be seen as the political hero of Tamil Nadu," Sengottaiyan said.
He claimed that Vijay commands a vote share of nearly 34 per cent and enjoys growing support even among the Tamil diaspora. "People from several countries are enquiring about the election date.
Nearly three lakh overseas Tamils are keen to return and vote for Vijay, spending Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh each," he said.
Targeting the NDA, the former minister said tall claims of massive crowds had fallen flat.
"They spoke of five lakh people attending their meeting. Only 60,000 chairs were arranged, many remained empty, and even those present showed no response, " he remarked.
Rejecting allegations that TVK is a 'B team' of the DMK, Sengottaiyan said Vijay had openly branded the DMK a 'Theeya Sakthi' (destructive force) at the Erode public meeting.
"Those who question Vijay's ideology will find their answers in the policy framework he unveiled at Kancheepuram," he said.
Recalling his political journey, Sengottaiyan said he had once refused an offer from VK Sasikala to become Chief Minister during the Koovathur episode.
He also said his efforts to reunite the AIADMK had failed and expressed anguish over his removal from the party he had helped build.
On alliances, Sengottaiyan said the Congress remained divided, adding that one faction was in talks with TVK.