Chennai– Tamil film star and leader of the political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay, has expressed support for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent protests against alleged irregularities in the electoral process, describing the situation as a threat to democracy. Vijay, in a statement, backed the central demand made by Gandhi and other opposition leaders for free and fair elections, while also proposing a key alternative to strengthen democratic institutions.
The support from Vijay came after Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by other INDIA bloc MPs, was detained during a protest march to the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in New Delhi. The protest was aimed at highlighting concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which the opposition claims is a form of “vote chori” (vote theft) and a systematic attack on the “one man, one vote” principle.
In his statement, Vijay condemned the detention of the opposition leaders, asserting that free and fair elections are the bedrock of democracy. He reiterated his party’s long-standing position on the issue, emphasizing that a robust and trustworthy electoral system is crucial for a healthy democracy.
Furthermore, Vijay’s statement went beyond a simple show of solidarity and included an alternative suggestion for the appointment of Election Commissioners. He proposed that the commissioners should be appointed through a consensus-based process, rather than the current system, to ensure their impartiality and to instill public trust in the institution.
This move marks a significant political alignment, as Vijay, who is preparing for his political debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu state elections, has been positioning his party as an alternative force. While he has previously described both the ruling DMK and the BJP as his political and ideological opponents, his support for Rahul Gandhi’s protest aligns him with the broader opposition narrative on the issue of democratic integrity.
The statement also highlights the growing convergence of regional and national political figures on issues of institutional credibility and fair elections, as they perceive these to be under threat.
