Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai launched a sharp attack on actor-turned-politician Vijay, criticizing him for dismissing the BJP’s protest against the alleged Tasmac liquor scam as mere “drama.” Annamalai accused Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), of engaging in “work-from-home politics” instead of taking their fight to the streets. He mocked Vijay’s political stance, saying, “TVK is behaving like school kids. Vijay is acting as if he’s on a film set—dancing with actresses and playing roles—while making political statements. I am here on the ground, fighting, not making statements while acting in movies.”

Taking a direct jab at Vijay’s remarks on Tamil Nadu’s government-run liquor retailer, Tasmac, Annamalai questioned his credibility on the issue. “You drink and smoke in movies, but then talk about Tasmac in real life—who gave you the moral authority? What was your role in ‘Master’? Just wearing a skullcap for a day, hosting an Iftar event, and claiming to stand with minorities doesn’t make a difference,” he remarked.

Slamming TVK’s political approach, Annamalai challenged Vijay and his party to step beyond the film industry’s comforts. “Instead of sitting on a movie set and issuing statements with Bussy Anand, come to the ground. You’re typing political articles while acting—what do you really know about people’s struggles?” He also accused Vijay of being aligned with the ruling DMK, calling TVK “DMK’s B-team” and questioning who was really doing “drama”—the BJP or Vijay himself.

Defending his stance, Annamalai maintained that he had spoken about TVK respectfully but warned them not to cross limits. “I could hit back harder, but I’ve maintained decorum. There should be substance behind statements. Am I issuing political remarks while dancing in films? No, I’m fighting on the ground and speaking with purpose,” he asserted.

On February 17, Annamalai, along with BJP leaders like former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and state secretary Vinoj P. Selvam, was detained by the police ahead of their planned protest against the alleged Tasmac scam. The demonstration, set for 11 AM, was disrupted as leaders were either placed under house arrest or taken into custody before reaching the protest site.

The BJP’s protest was triggered by the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) ongoing probe into the alleged Rs 1,000-crore scam involving Tasmac. The ED has filed multiple FIRs, citing overpricing, kickbacks, and corruption in liquor sales, and recently conducted raids across Tamil Nadu as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, the DMK government has strongly refuted these allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated. Party leaders have accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to target Opposition-led states.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from India Today.