Chennai: DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday launched a sharp political attack on actor-turned-politician Vijay, describing the TVK chief’s massive electoral success as a “glamour tsunami” that swept across Tamil Nadu during the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Addressing district secretaries and senior party leaders at the DMK headquarters in Chennai, Stalin said the state was now witnessing another “tsunami” — one that, according to him, was affecting Tamil Nadu’s welfare under the new government led by Vijay.
Despite the crushing electoral setback for the DMK alliance, Stalin avoided calling the result a complete defeat. Instead, he termed it “a cycle” in politics and urged party workers to prepare for a comeback.
“We need to understand what people expect from us and make necessary changes accordingly,” Stalin reportedly told party cadre during the meeting.
The DMK chief acknowledged that the party needs to modernise its political outreach, particularly in the digital space. Stressing the growing influence of social media in shaping public opinion, he called for a major shift in the party’s campaign strategy, with increased focus on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp.
As part of the restructuring exercise, Stalin announced the formation of a special committee that will interact with party workers across all constituencies and submit a detailed report within 20 days. He also made it clear that those unwilling to actively contribute to the party’s rebuilding efforts could step aside.
“There would be changes at all levels in the party,” Stalin said in a video message released after the meeting.
In an attempt to directly connect with party cadre and the public, Stalin also launched a new online platform called “UDANPIRAPPINKURAL”, where people can submit suggestions, complaints and feedback regarding the DMK and its future direction.
The remarks come in the backdrop of a historic political shift in Tamil Nadu. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), contesting its first-ever Assembly election, stunned political observers by winning 108 seats and ending the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in the state.
The DMK alliance, which had secured a commanding victory in 2021 by winning 159 of the 234 Assembly seats, managed only 74 seats this time. The DMK itself was reduced to just 59 seats.
The AIADMK, meanwhile, won 47 seats, while Congress — a key ally of the DMK during the election — suffered a disappointing performance, winning only five of the 28 seats it contested. Following the results, the Congress shifted towards the TVK-led alliance, adding to the DMK’s political troubles.
One of the biggest shocks of the election was the DMK’s poor performance in Chennai, traditionally considered one of the party’s strongholds. Stalin himself lost the Kolathur constituency, which he had represented for three consecutive terms.
Political analysts have linked Vijay’s breakthrough victory to the massive digital mobilisation carried out by TVK during the campaign. Tamil Nadu recorded its highest-ever Assembly election turnout at 85.1 per cent, a sharp rise from 72.7 per cent in 2021, with social media-driven campaigning playing a major role in energising younger voters.
Many observers are now drawing comparisons between Vijay’s rise and the political journey of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor MGR, who transformed his cinematic popularity into long-term political dominance.
However, DMK leaders have rejected suggestions that Vijay’s success guarantees political stability in the years ahead. DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi dismissed such comparisons and questioned the durability of the new government.
“Just wait and see if his government will last three months,” Bharathi said while reacting to speculation that Vijay could dominate Tamil Nadu politics for the next decade.
The election results have triggered intense introspection within the DMK, with party leaders now openly acknowledging the need for organisational reforms, stronger grassroots engagement and a more aggressive digital strategy to counter the growing influence of Vijay and TVK in the state.