Centre provides 'Y' category security for TVK Founder-actor Vijay, AIADMK, BJP reacts
In a surprise development, the BJP-led Government at the Centre headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded ‘Y’ category security to actor-politician and Founder of the nascent Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Vijay, triggering mixed reactions from the AIADMK
and the BJP.
Orders to this effect were issued by the Union Home Ministry yesterday, reports
received here said.The security cover with a Central Reserve Police Force component would
mean that the 50-year-old actor-turned-politician would have personal security officials guarding him round-the-clock, along with an armed guard at his residence and place of stay, police sources said.
The Centre according 'Y' category security to the Kollywood youth icon,who had termed BJP as his party's 'ideological enemy' and the ruling DMK as 'political enemy', has raised political hackles in Tamil Nadu, with the mainOpposition AIADMK terming it as a possible 'bait' to rope TVK into the NDA fold, ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.
However, the BJP dismissed it and said there was nothing political in it as Vijay, who had ventured into public life was provided the security by the Centre considering that there could be threat perception to him.Reacting to the Centre's move, former Minister and AIADMK Deputy GeneralSecretary KP Munusamy, talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at
Krishnagiri district last evening, said it was not clear on what basis the Modi government has accorded the ‘Y’ category security to Vijay.
It could be justified considering his popularity. But if one goes by the BJP's history, it could be an attempt to rope him into the NDA fold."If it is in view of Vijay being a hugely popular actor and crowds swarming him wherever he goes, it can be seen justified. If not, it could be a bait to get him onboard in the NDA", the senior leader of the AIADMK, which had severed its
ties with the BJP, walked out of the NDA and vowed not to have any truck with the saffron party in future polls, said.
Meanwhile, BJP State President K Annamalai told reporters here on Saturday that based on reports that there was some threat perception, the Centre has accorded 'Y' category security to the actor-politician as he had ventured into public life.
Mr Annamalai also said that in the past similar security status has been provided to leaders like Mr M Karunanidhi, Mr M K Stalin--now Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President--while they were in the opposition.
"Now a similar security has been provided to the Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami", Mr Annamalai reasoned. "Like other political party leaders, Vijay was also accorded 'Y' category security", he added.
Questioning as to why the State government has not provided security to Vijay, the BJP State Chief said the Centre would provide adequate security cover if there is any threat perception to those involved in public life."There is no politics in it", he asserted.
It may be noted that Vijay, while addressing TVK's maiden political conference recently, had launched a blistering attack on the 'corrupt' and 'dynastic' DMK rule in the State and the 'fascist' BJP, while remaining silent on AIADMK, which has been working to cobble up a strong alliance to unseat the DMK and return to power in the 2026 polls.
Vijay's announcement in the conference that his party was open for alliance and was also ready to share power--a concept never seen in Tamil Nadu political history--has triggered a debate in the political circles.
The Centre's move comes a couple of days after Vijay and TVK senior leaders holding discussions with renowned poll strategist Prashant Kishor to devise the strategy for the 2026 polls, which the TVK was keen to win by a massive mandate with the support of the people and unseat the DMK.
During the two-day meeting, Prashant Kishor was believed to have given a detailed report stating that the TVK could garner a vote share of 15 to 20 per cent and the The TVK is eyeing to win by a massive mandate in its maiden electoral venture by banking on its ideology unveiled by Vijay at its maiden political conference recently.
During the meeting with Vijay and also withTVK General Secretary N Anand, Party's newly appointed General Secretary for Election Campaign Management Aadhav Arjuna and TVK Election Campaign Strategist John Arokiasamy, Prashant Kishor in his report gave inputs on how to approach the Assembly polls and the alliance strategy to be adopted by identifying potential allies.
Prashant, who also discussed the prevailing political situation in Tamil Nadu and the existing vote share gained by leading political parties, was believed to have told the TVK leaders that the party could garner 15 to 20 per cent vote share and also seems to have told them on how to increase this vote share, the possible voter group who could favour TVK in the polls, those who would not, the age group to be targetted to maximise the vote share during the elections.
Though no formal agreement was signed between them to engage him as the key poll
strategist, reports indicated that Prashant could act as a political advisor to TVK. (UNI)
