Chennai, May 6 (UNI) Terming the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)'s victorious mandate at the hustings that transcends conventional politics and a decisive political shift, Party Founder-President and actor-turned politician, Chief Minister-elect C Joseph Vijay who took the Tamil Nadu poll scene by storm ending the six decade long Dravidian duopoly winning 108 of the 234 Assembly elections in his maiden electoral foray in a short span of two years, has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for extending their greetings on TVK's poll victory and sought centre's support for the state's development and growth.
Observing that this election was remarkable in many ways and the one that shook the Indian politics, he said among the various factors, one of the deeper reasons behind this extraordinary election has been the younger generation who guided with a sense of conviction in shaping this mandate.
The verdict reflected deeper social currents, he said, adding "this poll victory is not for TVK alone, but a victory for democracy".
In a statement after single-handedly guiding the party to power in his electoral debut, that too by securing a record vote percentage, emulating leaders and film icons like MGR (AIADMK) and N T Rama Rao (TDP) against all odds, besides constant ridicule by many, Vijay said these criticisms did not weaken his resolve and in tune pepped up him to work with more commitment, while thanking the people for their unwavering affection showered on him and his party and credited them for ensuring such a massive victory at the hustings, heralding a change they yearned for long.
Terming the unprecedented success as a victory for people-driven democracy, he said he owed lifelong gratitude to them for making this political victory possible, for a change that once seemed impossible and could never happen.
He declared that the poll verdict has clearly established that TVK is a major force for change and a force to reckon with in TN's political landscape.
Hailing the TVK's surge as a decisive political shift, Vijay said the people had delivered a mandate that transcends conventional politics, despite the party enduring sustained ridicule since its inception with many dismissing it.
However, the TVK moved forward with a firm resolve, faced the elections with courage without depending on anyone and placed its trust only in the people, and eventually succeeded.
The TVK reposing it faith solely on public support has yielded good results, the results for a change, he said, and recalled that "right from the beginning when the TVK was started, we were mocked and dismissed, which is quite natural in politics. We moved past it, placed our faith in the people and stood firm in the electoral arena without depending on anyone".
"We were subjected to insults and slander, but the people of Tamil Nadu our own stood behind us with unwavering affection, " he said, crediting voters for the scale of the victory.
Describing the outcome as an extraordinary election that has shaken Indian politics, Vijay said the verdict reflected deeper social currents. "Among many factors, young members within families played a crucial role in shaping this mandate, " he said.
He also said the mandate had effectively rejected the dominance of money power in electoral politics.
"A political culture driven by money power has been buried, " he said.
Calling TVK a primary force for change, he thanked party workers, office-bearers at all levels and supporters, including those active on digital platforms, for their contribution.
"To the people of Tamil Nadu who made what seemed impossible possible, I offer my lifelong gratitude, " Vijay said, while also extending his message to those who did not vote for the party. "They, too, will come to embrace us in the days ahead, " he added.
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