BJP now lashes out at actor Vijay for extending wishes for DMK founder C N Annadurai

CHENNAI: BJP functionaries have started attacking actor Vijay, after a brief period of support for the actor-turned-politician when police delayed permission for his party's first conference.

The attacks were scaled up after Vijay didn't wish on Vinayaka Chaturthi, a practice followed by DMK. On Sunday, there was a fresh round of attacks from BJP men after Vijay extended wishes for DMK founder C N Annadurai's birth anniversary.

Vijay said in a social media post that ‘Arignar Anna' had created history in Tamil Nadu by bringing two-language policy, naming the state Tamil Nadu and legalising self-respect marriages. Vijay also extended Onam wishes.

"Vijay should stop being a supporter of Dravidian politics which focuses only on seeking publicity,'' BJP spokesperson A N S Prasad told TOI. The first salvo on Vijay was fired by BJP youth wing president Vinoj P Selvam a week ago. "Vijay has stooped so low to the extent of copying DMK style of not wishing for Vinayaka Chaturthi," he had posted on X.

The next attack came from A N S Prasad who criticised Vijay for using the names of the freedom fighters such as Gandhi and Subash Chandra Bose for characters in his movie GOAT. Vijay was accused of insulting national icons.

The third attack came from convener of BJP coordination committee H Raja who said Vijay followed the Dravidian ideology. "Vijay's entry to politics will not affect BJP's vote share and will only affect Dravidian parties as he shares the same ideology," Raja said, recalling Vijay's speech on banning NEET and bringing education from the concurrent list to the state list.

Since then, BJP men have branded Vijay as a supporter of the ‘Dravidian stock' and as a politician who does not voice for the national cause.

"We are waiting for Vijay's state conference in Vikravandi where his party's ideology will be revealed. Once he releases the ideology then we may scale up or subdue our attack," said a BJP functionary.

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