Tamil actor Vijay launched his political party Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) here on Sunday, declaring that divisive forces feeding on the politics of hate and corruption were histwin adversaries.

At a huge rally of fans and supporters near Vikravandi in Villupuram district, Vijay took an apparent dig at the BJP and Hindutva forces for their “divisive” agenda and alluded to the ruling DMK as one of the “forces of corruption”.

“I have not come here (into politics) as extra baggage,” he said in what looked like a largely one-man show, manifesting his prowess in a state where the two Dravidian parties — the DMK and the AIADMK — have been the main political rivals for overfive decades.

“There is no looking back. I have come and will follow political decency and decorum,” Vijay said, explaining that his entry into politics at the “peak of his film career” was a deeply deliberated decision to give something back to society.

“(It was) a collective decision which you (people) have forced on me.... We have a pucca plan with public interest in mind,” Vijay said.

Actor and founder of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam Vijay during his pary's first political conference, at Vikravandi in Villupuram district, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. PTI

Setting out the TVK’s basic political ideology and programme, Vijay said the party would not “shrink itself” to any caste, religious or gender group. The party will strive to establish an egalitarian society “where everyone will get everything needed for a good and decent life — food, clothing, shelter and jobs”. “All these are core to people’s self-respect,” he said.

The first policy proclamation made at the TVK’s maiden state conference on Sunday cited classical Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar’s famous words that “all are equal at birth”.

“This one statement alone is sufficient to prove whom we oppose,” Vijay said, indicating that the party was opposed to the social hierarchy of caste and the discriminatory value system that came with that.

Identifying five major political personalities who will “guide us in our politics and public life”, Vijay mentioned the late rationalist leader Thanthai Periyar, former chief minister K. Kamaraj, chief architect of the Constitution Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and two women freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu — Velu Naachiyar andAnjalai Ammal.

Vijay clarified that the TVK did not accept Periyar’s “atheism”. “We will respect all religious faiths and work for social and communal harmony,” he said.

However, Vijay said Periyar’s vision for women’s education, empowerment and emancipation and his emphasis on a rational and scientific approach to addressing society’s problems would be taken forward by the TVK.

Vijay intends to keep the TVK as primarily a regional party working for the welfare of all sections of Tamils. The party staved off any impression of nursing a secessionist agenda by declaring that it would abide by the principles of the Constitution.

The TVK hailed late Congress leader Kamaraj for laying the foundations of modern education and industry in Tamil Nadu.

Rooting for a “caste-based census”, Vijay said it was the only way to ensure “proportional representation” and take forward the gains of social justice. The TVK will press for “proportional representation” to ensure that all sections of society have a say in policy-making and administration, Vijay said, picking up the cue from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.