Prashant Kishor Hails Thalapathy Vijay as Tamil Nadu's New Hope at TVK Anniversary

At the first anniversary celebration of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Chennai, Jan Suraaj Party founder and esteemed political strategist Prashant Kishor expressed strong support for actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay and his party. Kishor described TVK as a "movement for change" and hailed Vijay as the "new hope for Tamil Nadu."

Kishor commenced his address with a warm "Vanakkam," humorously noting that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi uses the same greeting. He emphasized that his presence was not to provide political strategy but to endorse a vision for transformation. "Your victory or final result has nothing to do with Prashant Kishor. It has everything to do with what you do, what your leader does, and what the workers of TVK will do," he stated. Clarifying his role, Kishor mentioned he was not there to strategize for TVK or assist Vijay, as the actor-turned-politician "doesn't need that help." Instead, he portrayed Vijay as a beacon of hope and TVK as a movement embodying the aspirations of millions seeking a new political order in Tamil Nadu.

Explaining his decision to break a four-year hiatus from political strategy, Kishor said, "Vijay is not a political leader for me. He is the new hope for Tamil Nadu. TVK is not just a political party; it is a movement for change." He highlighted shared values and a mutual goal of bringing dignity, equality, and opportunity to the people of Tamil Nadu.

Kishor also praised Tamil Nadu's development model, deeming it superior to the "Gujarat model." He stressed the importance of combating issues like corruption, communalism, and dynastic politics. Drawing a cricket analogy, he questioned, "Imagine if only the sons of legendary cricketers like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar had played cricket. Would we have seen Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, or Virat Kohli?"

Humorously comparing himself to MS Dhoni, a fellow Bihari popular in Tamil Nadu, Kishor quipped, "Dhoni is more popular than me in Tamil Nadu, but if I help TVK win next year, I will take over Dhoni in popularity," eliciting laughter and applause from the audience.

Promising to return after TVK's anticipated victory in the 2026 elections, Kishor vowed to deliver his thank-you speech in Tamil, demonstrating his commitment to the state's culture and language.