TVK's Vijay meets Prashant Kishor, faces backlash from other parties
What's the story
Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor Vijay's recent meeting with political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has drawn the ire of several political leaders in Tamil Nadu. Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai slammed Vijay, asking him to go directly to the people instead of depending on strategists. "If you meet the people, they will tell you their suffering...that is politics," Annamalai said.
Grassroots criticism
NTK leader questions Kishor's understanding of Tamil Nadu
Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman also slammed Vijay for depending on strategists instead of the grassroots. "I have brains but no money. I don't need Prashant Kishor," Seeman said, questioning Kishor's knowledge of Tamil Nadu's local dynamics. Meanwhile, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam spokesperson Kovai Sathyan called TVK a "political startup" and said it's too early to say what impact this meeting will have.
Party stance
DMK MP Kanimozhi downplays significance of Vijay-Kishor meeting
Downplaying the meeting's importance, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi stressed her party depended on its workers for election strategies. "Prashant Kishor is a professional strategist. Whoever calls him, he works with them," she said. DMK Organisational Secretary TKS Elangovan admitted Kishor's past contributions but emphasized DMK's established grassroots network. He said DMK has been contesting elections since 1975 and has a strong presence in every village.