Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and popular Tamil film actor C. Joseph Vijay declared on Tuesday that he entered politics out of gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu and would not bow to what he called "anti-people fascist forces." In a statement marking the final day of campaigning ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu (a southern Indian state) assembly elections, Vijay alleged that both the ruling DMK and the BJP had applied intense pressure on his party since its founding. He characterised the DMK as an "anti-people evil force" and political rival, and the BJP as an ideological opponent and "divisive force," signalling a combative stance as voters prepare to go to the polls.