INTERVIEW | Tamil Nadu’s opposition parties are making unfulfilled false promises: Prabhakaran Vijaya

Son of late actor/politician Vijayakanth, who formed DMDK, DMDK candidate Vijaya Prabhakaran is making his political debut by running from the Virudhunagar seat. He claims that the opposition parties’ fictitious electoral pledges have presented a challenge to him in an interview with TNIE.

Having just entered the field of political politics, what difficulties have you encountered?

For me, running for office or participating in campaigns is not a problem. Opposition parties, meanwhile, are making unfulfilled false promises in order to win the elections. My difficulty has been this.

DMDK decided to field you after gaining five seats in the AIADMK coalition. Why did the general secretary of the party and your mother, Premalatha Vijayakanth, decide to pick you?

For the last fifteen years, I have been putting a lot of effort into the party’s growth. The other four contenders are all from lower social classes. Count myself among them, too.

Who do you think is a formidable rival? Radikaa Sarathkumar or Manickam Tagore?

This scorching summer, the sun is your only rival. I refer to sunshine. Nobody else.

The BJP and AIADMK, according to the DMK, have a connection and would work together after the election. What are your thoughts on this?

DMK and BJP are maintained at the same distance by our party’s general secretary and the general secretary of AIADMK.

What opinions do party cadres have now that AIADMK and BJP have severed their ties?

That is the internal position of AIADMK, and we would prefer not to address it.

With AIADMK leader EPS running as the CM candidate in the 2026 assembly election, can the DMDK alliance hold?

Definitely. That has already been stated by our general secretary.

Vijayakanth, the founder of DMDK and your father, has left a legacy. Do you believe you’ll be able to live up to everyone’s expectations and walk in his shoes?

Why would you question that? I joined politics for that reason. I’ll carry out my father’s wish and keep helping the underprivileged.