Vijay, the actor-turned-politician and leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has unveiled his party's election manifesto ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. In his speech delivered in Thanjavur on March 4, 2026, Vijay made bold promises, including free higher education for children of small and marginal farmers, with a focus on families owning less than two acres of land. The announcement is designed to alleviate the financial burden of rising education costs for economically vulnerable farming households.

Vijay's party aims to ensure that no member of these families is employed in a government job to be eligible for the benefit, highlighting his focus on empowering rural populations. He also pledged to take strong actions against corruption, positioning TVK as a clean and transparent alternative in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. With these commitments, Vijay seeks to contrast TVK's vision with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which he has heavily criticized, calling it an "evil force" and accusing it of misleading the people on key issues like the NEET examination.

The announcement came at a critical juncture, with Tamil Nadu's 2026 Assembly elections approaching. Thanjavur, historically significant and a stronghold for the DMK, saw Vijay passionately declare that the upcoming elections are a personal and emotional turning point. Drawing inspiration from regional pride, he linked TVK's election symbol, the "whistle," to the popular "whistle podu" slogan of the Chennai Super Kings IPL team, reinforcing his vision for Tamil Nadu's autonomy. As the election season heats up, Vijay urged voters to rally behind TVK, framing the political battle as a fight for Tamil pride and a brighter future.