The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu has rejected claims that the Central government is responsible for the delay in releasing actor-politician Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, accusing the ruling DMK of politicising the issue ahead of the state assembly elections.

BJP state vice-president Kushboo Sundar told reporters that the Centre had no role in holding up the film’s release, and criticised attempts to link the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with political interference. She argued that announcing a release date without first obtaining all mandatory clearances was a procedural oversight by the film’s producers, not an act of censorship by the Union government.

Kushboo Sundar highlighted that if the Centre were truly trying to block films, it would have acted against other major releases such as Parasakthi. She also accused the DMK of using the controversy to divert attention from local governance issues and unfulfilled promises.

The Jana Nayagan release has been postponed due to delays in securing certification from the CBFC and ongoing legal proceedings in the Madras High Court. The film, starring Vijay in what would be his last big-screen appearance before focusing on politics, has become a flashpoint in wider debates over film certification and artistic freedom in the run-up to elections.