Chennai, April 19 In a significant political development ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President C. Joseph Vijay has extended support to an Independent candidate in the Edappadi Assembly constituency in Salem district after the party’s official nominee was disqualified.
The move comes after the nomination papers of the TVK candidate, who had filed to contest from Edappadi, were rejected during scrutiny.
Following this setback, Vijay announced that the party would back Independent candidate Premkumar, who is now contesting from the constituency.
In a post on X, Vijay described Premkumar as a long-time associate and former administrator of his fan club, referring to him as a “brother”.
He said that the party had unanimously decided to support Premkumar in the current situation, urging party workers, supporters, and voters in the Edappadi constituency to rally behind him.
Vijay appealed to the electorate to vote for Premkumar using the “television set” symbol, which has been allotted to the Independent candidate by the Election Commission. He specifically highlighted the symbol’s serial number on the ballot, asking voters to identify and support it to ensure Premkumar’s victory.
“Though we are unable to contest directly due to the rejection of our candidate’s nomination, we consider Premkumar as our own representative in this constituency,” Vijay stated in his message.
He further urged TVK executives and cadres to work collectively to secure a decisive victory for the Independent candidate.
The actor-turned-politician also made a veiled remark against those he accused of attempting to obstruct the party’s electoral prospects. He said that Premkumar’s victory in Edappadi would serve as a “lesson” to those who tried to block the party’s symbol and hinder its participation in the electoral process.
The Edappadi constituency, represented by senior AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is expected to witness a keen contest, with the entry of TVK-backed Independent candidate adding a new dimension to the electoral battle.
With campaigning entering its final phase, Vijay’s endorsement is likely to energise grassroots supporters and influence voting dynamics in the constituency.
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