CHENNAI: Dismissing speculation that the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has gone into a lull after the Jana Nayagan issue, claiming that the party budged to the BJP-led Centre pressure built through the censor board, the party on Wednesday announced an extensive 11-day Statewide tour in the first phase of its election campaign.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's 10-member election campaign committee held at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur. Senior leaders, including general secretary N Anand, election campaign management general secretary Aadhav Arjuna and veteran leader KA Sengottaiyan, attended the deliberations, which focused on campaign strategy and outreach plans.
In the first phase, the committee will cover nearly 40 locations cutting across northern, western, southern and delta regions of Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvallur, Vellore, Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram, among others. Party headquarters functionaries and campaigners will address public meetings during the tour, with dates to be announced shortly, a party functionary said.
Addressing the meeting, Anand sought to quell reports of internal discord. "There is no resentment or difference of opinion between me and K A Sengottaiyan. In TVK, everyone is a cadre working under Vijay's leadership. There are no divisions," he said, referring to reports that the senior leader from AIADMK was disgruntled and may shift to the ruling party.
Aadhav Arjuna alleged political interference behind the hurdles faced by actor Vijay's film Jana Nayagan. "The BJP and the DMK are behind the obstacles created for Jana Nayagan. When the DMK-backed Parasakthi was released during Pongal, our leader's film was not. You know who is responsible," he said.
Meanwhile, 392 persons from various political parties joined the TVK at an induction programme held at the party headquarters here, attended by senior office-bearers.