AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has responded to actor-turned-politician Vijay’s remarks about the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Vijay had earlier said that the upcoming polls would be a contest between DMK and his party, TVK.

Countering this, Palaniswami said that the real competition in Tamil Nadu politics is only for the second place, as AIADMK is the only party strong enough to challenge and defeat the ruling DMK. He dismissed Vijay’s statement as self-promotional and argued that newcomers without electoral experience should first prove their strength at the ballot box.

Palaniswami also urged voters not to be misled by such claims and reaffirmed that AIADMK continues to be the primary opposition force in the state.