Tagore's Remark Not Aimed at Vijay, Clarifies TVK Minister R Nirmalkumar

TVK minister R Nirmalkumar sought to play down remarks made by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore on Sunday, stating that the criticism regarding a "fan-club mindset" was aimed at comments made by individual functionaries and ministers rather than party leader Vijay.

Speaking to reporters, Nirmalkumar addressed the recent political friction sparked by Tagore's statements. The TNCC president had made the observation after certain TVK functionaries projected Vijay as a future prime minister candidate, despite the party being aligned with the Congress, which positions Rahul Gandhi for the post.

Clarifying the party's stance, Nirmalkumar explained that Tagore’s observations stemmed from interviews and public remarks delivered by specific individuals within the organisation. He maintained that the statements were not directed at the leadership of Vijay.

Addressing TVK's future political alignment and its relationship with national coalitions, Nirmalkumar responded to Tagore’s comments regarding parliamentary representation. He stated that TVK intends to join hands and actively work with the INDIA bloc after securing members of parliament in the upcoming elections.

In addition to alliance matters, the TVK minister dismissed allegations from the opposition claiming that criminal cases are being filed against political rivals as an act of political vendetta.

Nirmalkumar rejected the accusations, asserting that legal action and formal cases are strictly based on evidence. He stated that no case can be registered without concrete proof of wrongdoing, adding that there is no intention to seek revenge and that action will be taken whenever corruption or illicit activities are substantiated.