Ponraj Vellaichamy, a former advisor to the late APJ Abdul Kalam and a supporter of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), ignited a storm on social media with derogatory comments directed at female members of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). His remarks, which many have labeled as offensive, prompted a public backlash from several TVK members, including actor-turned-politician Vijay, who leads the organization.
In response to the controversy, Vijay took to his X account to issue a strong condemnation of Ponraj’s remarks. He expressed his outrage, stating that such comments reflect a lack of respect for women and emphasized the need for accountability from the DMK government. Vijay’s statement highlighted the importance of honoring and valuing the dignity of women and criticized the DMK for failing to take action against individuals who make such disparaging comments.
Vijay’s message further conveyed that the insulting nature of Ponraj’s words aimed to provoke the TVK, asserting that women’s collective dignity is at stake. He predicted that this incident would influence the upcoming elections, suggesting that the DMK would face significant repercussions as a result of their inaction regarding such criticisms.
The outrage was fueled by Ponraj’s characterization of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s female supporters. In a recent interview, he described them as an “uncultured mob” and made further inflammatory remarks, framing their admiration for Vijay in derogatory terms. This prompted Aadhav Arjuna, TVK’s general secretary, to call out Ponraj’s comments as lacking basic morality and dignity, regardless of his past credentials and roles.
As Vijay prepares to contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, he has underscored the stark distinction he sees between the TVK and DMK. He envisions the election as a battle between what he terms “pure force” represented by TVK and the “evil force” of the DMK. This positioning aims to reaffirm TVK as the true advocate for the people’s interests in Tamil Nadu, signaling his commitment to serving and representing the populace.