Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief C. Joseph Vijay has challenged DMK president M.K. Stalin to disclose details of his assets before and after entering politics, while accusing established parties of failing to ensure accountability. His remarks came during campaigning for the October 6 Madurantakam Assembly bypoll.
Chengalpattu, Sept 2026 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay on Friday launched a sharp attack on DMK president M.K. Stalin, challenging him to disclose his assets before and after entering politics and accusing established parties of failing to address allegations of corruption.
Addressing a campaign gathering in Madurantakam ahead of the October 6 Assembly bypoll, Vijay said his party would continue to raise questions about corruption and governance. He also rejected criticism that the issues being raised by TVK were repetitions of allegations from the past.
“We will not spare the corrupt gang. You cannot deceive the people of Tamil Nadu any longer,” Vijay said, while making allegations for which he did not provide specific evidence during the speech.
Vijay questioned Stalin directly on whether the DMK president could state that he had never misused public money and whether the party was prepared to commit itself to avoiding corruption. He also challenged Stalin to make public details of his assets before entering politics and their present value.
The remarks were part of Vijay's broader effort to position TVK as an alternative to Tamil Nadu's established political parties. He alleged that the DMK and AIADMK, despite being traditional political rivals, had effectively joined hands against his party.
Vijay claimed that political parties that had been in power for decades had enjoyed access to public resources, while asserting that a party rooted in ordinary families could govern without misusing public money.
“We will not touch the people’s money, and we will not allow others to touch it,” he said.
The TVK leader also referred to allegations of past wrongdoing that, according to him, had been raised in the state Assembly. He said his government had sought to discuss such matters but faced demands for evidence and objections linked to cases pending before courts.
Vijay argued that younger voters should be aware of allegations concerning political and administrative decisions made over several decades. He said his own observations of Tamil Nadu's political system over roughly 35 years had shaped his decision to raise such issues.
His remarks came amid an increasingly competitive campaign for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls, both scheduled for October 6. TVK has fielded former AIADMK MLA K. Maragatham Kumaravel from Madurantakam after she resigned as MLA and joined Vijay's party.
Vijay also sought to portray TVK as a political force drawing support from ordinary families, including younger voters. He claimed the DMK had begun treating TVK as a significant challenger, while continuing to attack both the DMK and AIADMK.
At the rally, Vijay used a lighter tone at one point by referring to Stalin as his “sweet uncle”, saying the relationship would remain unchanged irrespective of electoral outcomes.
The campaign has intensified ahead of the bypolls, with the DMK, AIADMK, TVK and other parties stepping up their outreach in the two constituencies. The contests follow the resignation of the sitting AIADMK MLAs from Madurantakam and Dharapuram after they joined TVK.
Vijay's latest remarks are expected to keep corruption, political accountability and the conduct of established parties at the centre of TVK's campaign as the October 6 bypoll approaches.
