‘Vanakkam Gen Z’: Vijay sends message to youth, warns rivals in maiden I-Day address

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay gave a special shoutout to Generation Z, promised a relentless fight against corruption and warned those attempting to destabilise his government as he delivered his maiden Independence Day address after taking office earlier this year. Hoisting the Tricolour at Fort St George in Chennai on Saturday, the actor-turned-politician opened his address with a direct greeting to young voters who formed a crucial constituency in his dramatic political rise.

"To all my Tamil relatives across the world, Gen Z friends, my Vanakkam to all," Vijay said, addressing the state's Independence Day celebrations for the first time as Chief Minister. Vijay led the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) into its first Assembly election earlier this year and subsequently became Chief Minister after a fractured mandate and days of political negotiations. His government eventually secured support from several parties, including outside backing from the CPI and CPM. His first Independence Day speech sought to combine that political message with an account of his government's priorities — clean administration, social justice, state rights and the continuation of welfare measures that benefit people.

Message to Gen Z

Vijay's explicit acknowledgement of Gen Z was significant given the role younger voters and his massive youth following have played in TVK's emergence. The Chief Minister thanked the people of Tamil Nadu for what he described as rejecting caste and religious considerations as well as money and muscle power while voting for a people-centric government committed to social justice. He said his administration was working in "mission mode" towards creating a corruption-free government and called for citizens themselves to develop zero tolerance towards graft.

The message was consistent with Vijay's political positioning since entering electoral politics. During his campaign, he had repeatedly sought to project TVK as an alternative to Tamil Nadu's established political order and emphasised a politics driven by younger voters and public participation.

‘Eliminating corruption is freedom’

A major portion of Vijay's address was devoted to corruption.

The Chief Minister equated the elimination of corruption with freedom and said his government was working towards ensuring transparency and good governance.

He claimed that the diversion of government revenue to private individuals had been stopped and that continuous action was being taken to eradicate corruption across government departments.

The remarks were in line with one of Vijay's central political promises — to build an administration free from bribery and corruption. He had made clean governance a major campaign theme before taking power.

In his Independence Day address, Vijay sought to frame that commitment in the larger context of freedom, suggesting that political independence must also translate into citizens being free from corruption in their everyday interactions with government.

Warning to opponents

Vijay also used the occasion to send a message to his political opponents, though he refrained from naming any party or leader.

He said forces working against his government would be defeated and that conspiracies directed against his administration would also be thwarted.

The comments come after a politically turbulent first few months for the TVK government. Vijay's elevation as Chief Minister followed an election that disrupted Tamil Nadu's long-established political equations and produced a complicated post-poll situation.

TVK initially did not have the numbers on its own to cross the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly. Congress was its initial ally, while the CPI, CPM and other parties subsequently extended support, enabling Vijay to form the government.

His warning on Saturday appeared aimed at projecting political stability and signalling that his government would not be unsettled by opposition pressure.

Will work with Centre, but defend state rights

On relations with the Centre, Vijay adopted a position combining cooperation with a strong assertion of Tamil Nadu's interests.

He said his government would cooperate with the Union government on administrative matters but would oppose policies that went against the rights of the state.

The formulation reflects an important challenge for the relatively new government as it negotiates Tamil Nadu's relationship with New Delhi on issues ranging from federal powers and delimitation to inter-state water disputes.

Vijay has already taken positions on some of these matters. In July, he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the proposed Mekedatu reservoir, objecting to the Centre's position on whether Karnataka required the consent of lower riparian states.

Keeps schemes of previous governments

Vijay also made it clear that his administration would not discard welfare programmes merely because they were introduced by previous governments.

He said schemes that had proved useful to citizens would continue under his government.

Among those specifically mentioned were the Amma Unavagam, or Amma canteens, introduced under the AIADMK government, and the school breakfast programme launched during the previous DMK administration.

The announcement signalled a pragmatic approach to welfare policy, with Vijay seeking to distinguish between political rivalry and the continuation of programmes that his government considers beneficial.

Gold rings for newborns

The Chief Minister also announced that the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, a scheme providing gold rings for newborn babies in government hospitals, would be launched on September 15.

The launch will coincide with the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and Dravidian icon CN Annadurai.

The government has earmarked Rs 755.83 crore for the programme.

The scheme adds to the welfare measures being rolled out by Vijay's government during its first months in office.

Benefits for ex-servicemen

Vijay announced enhanced financial support for ex-servicemen and their families.

Financial assistance for the marriage of daughters of ex-servicemen will be doubled from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000. The benefit will be available for up to two daughters.

Monthly assistance for differently-abled ex-servicemen and their families will also rise from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.

The Chief Minister additionally announced an increase in pensions for freedom fighters. Their pension will rise to Rs 23,000, while the family pension provided to their dependants will be increased to Rs 12,500.

Trisha attends ceremony

The Independence Day ceremony also drew attention because actor Trisha Krishnan was seated in the front row alongside Vijay's parents, filmmaker SA Chandrasekhar and Shoba Chandrasekhar.

Trisha, who has worked with Vijay in several films, was present as he hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the ceremony.

For Vijay, however, the ceremony represented a larger political milestone. Having made the transition from one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars to Chief Minister, Saturday marked the first time he led Tamil Nadu's official Independence Day celebrations.

His maiden address reflected many of the themes that powered his political rise — an appeal to young voters, the promise of clean government and social justice, a willingness to retain successful welfare schemes irrespective of their political origins, and an assertion that his administration would defend Tamil Nadu's rights while cooperating with the Centre.

The "Vanakkam Gen Z" greeting also provided the speech with its most distinctive political message: Vijay continues to place the younger generation at the centre of the political constituency he hopes will sustain his government beyond its dramatic arrival in power.