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Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

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Vijay is set to destroy the old, dominant Dravidianism of Tamil Nadu politics

The Dravidian movement's parent organisation gave birth to several offshoots—DK, DMK, AIADMK, MDMK, DMDK, and AMMK. The political developments of 1972 and 1989 are now witnessing a parallel in 2026.

C Vijay Joseph has ushered in what many analysts describe as neo-Dravidian ideology in Tamil Nadu. The century-old Dravidian concept is under siege.

A 27-month-old Tamil Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has pierced the political dominance of two giants that have towered over Tamil Nadu for the past 72 years—the DMK and the AIADMK. Vijay did it by capitalising on Gen Z’s anti-DMK sentiment and opposition to “Mannar Aatchi”.

Can the sixth or seventh generation of Dravidian leadership stop this further deterioration?

In simple terms, can Udhayanidhi Stalin, representing the latest generation of the DMK, counter the Vijay “tsunami” and the fanfare surrounding a “neo-Dravidian era”, sugar-coated with references to five towering leaders who brought reforms for crores of downtrodden Tamils?

This is a clear indication of a change in track—from the main line to a loop line. Such generational shifts revolve around a new thought process.

In the coming 10 to 15 years, TVK is likely to remain relevant in Tamil Nadu politics. Vijay will try to systematically destabilise the DMK, AIADMK, and district-level caste parties such as PMK, VCK, and NTK. If speculation about BJP leader K Annamalai launching a separate party proves true, it could emerge as a major threat to TVK, apart from Udhayanidhi.

Vijay and TVK are not directly picking a fight with Dravidian ideology. Instead, they are invoking the names of five leaders to shape what I call “Neo-Dravidian Vijayism”.

These leaders are K Kamaraj, EV........

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