No 'Ayodhya Of The South': How TVK’s CTR Nirmal Kumar Is Drawing A Line In The Thiruparankundram Sand | Exclusive

Last Updated:April 05, 2026, 19:15 IST

Nirmal Kumar said that the fight in Tamil Nadu in this election is between the TVK and DMK, with the AIADMK-led NDA bloc not standing a chance

The battle for Thiruparankundram, the temple town that has seen significant political flashpoints between the BJP and DMK, is intensifying as the election season heats up. With the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by “Thalapathy" Joseph Vijay, entering the fray, and its candidate and senior leader CTR Nirmal Kumar contesting from there, the constituency is fast turning into a major political flashpoint.

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is attempting to strike a careful balance—positioning itself as a force for peace while accusing both the BJP and DMK of fuelling tensions around the temple town.

CTR Nirmal Kumar, TVK deputy general secretary and the party’s candidate from Thiruparankundram, is unequivocal in his messaging. “TVK is very clear on Thiruparankundram—we want peace. We want to tell people from the North as well as the DMK, we will not allow them to create another Ayodhya here," he says, even as he alleges that the BJP is trying to “create another Ayodhya issue" in the constituency.

“They are trying to make this another Ayodhya, and we will oppose it tooth and nail," said Kumar, who claimed that the DMK is allowing it to plant and play politics. “We in TVK will not allow any of it. We want the traditions and practices that have been there for decades to continue. I have seen Thiruparankundram from my childhood and know what it stands for. We will not allow its place to be disrupted. DMK could have stopped it; they politicised it."

He added that the fight in Tamil Nadu in this election is between the TVK and DMK, with the AIADMK-led NDA bloc not standing a chance, as “people will not forgive them for what they have done".

At the heart of TVK’s pitch is its attempt to frame the Thiruparankundram row not as a religious mobilisation, but as a disruption of a long-standing social equilibrium. “We have never seen such a situation in Thiruparankundram," Kumar says, recalling his childhood in the temple town. “We don’t want any controversies there. That place is a holy abode and a highly respected one."

The party’s political line also leans heavily on its criticism of both Dravidian rivals. Kumar accuses the DMK of turning a blind eye at crucial moments. “DMK allowed it when they stopped the Ramanathapuram MP and turned this into an issue. That was the first incident," he says, adding that the ruling party “remained mute spectators" when tensions began to build.

The BJP, meanwhile, comes in for sharper attack. Kumar claims the party is attempting to inject religious polarisation into Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. “They called this the ‘Ayodhya of the South’. The BJP wanted to create this into another Ayodhya and play politics, and we will not allow it," he says.

Even as the rhetoric sharpens, TVK is consciously avoiding direct escalation. Kumar explains why Vijay has not made aggressive statements on the issue so far. “We do not want to create a situation. We want to maintain peace and the traditions that have been followed for decades. We don’t want to play with emotional or religious issues," he says, adding, “You know who Vijay is—he believes in all religions, all people, all castes, with no discrimination."

That positioning ties into TVK’s larger political narrative—one that seeks to convert Vijay’s mass appeal into a broader anti-establishment wave. Kumar dismisses the idea that Tamil Nadu is headed for a three-cornered contest. “I don’t see it as a three-cornered contest at all. The AIADMK-led NDA is not even in the reckoning. Across Tamil Nadu, their dominance has gone down," he says.

Instead, he frames the moment as one of political churn. “People want a serious change. Tamil Nadu will be an example of how serious change can reflect in a state and bring change," he says, claiming that TVK has already made significant inroads. “We have crossed 40 per cent impact across Tamil Nadu. In the next few days, we will make a remarkable increase."

Central to that confidence is what the party calls an organic surge in political participation. “Eighty to ninety per cent of those who stayed away from politics for the past few years have now started speaking about politics after the arrival of TVK," Kumar says. “They are fed up with Modi, the DMK, and the AIADMK. They are out of options. Now, with Thalapathy Vijay, even kids and elders are speaking about politics and want him to make a difference."

The party also alleges administrative bias, particularly from the police. Kumar claims that “DMK-supported police officers" are creating hurdles for TVK events. “In Kollur, we tried to create barricades, but the police did not allow us. Till the last minute, we were not given clearance," he says, calling on the Election Commission to step in. “If in West Bengal they could change 600 officers, why not in Tamil Nadu?"

For TVK, the Thiruparankundram issue is not just a local flashpoint but a test case of whether it can hold its line as a party that promises change without stoking division. Kumar returns repeatedly to that framing. “We want to give a clear message—at Thiruparankundram, we want peace. The people of Tamil Nadu want to keep it that way."

Yet, beneath that appeal lies an unmistakable political ambition. “People want to see Thalapathy Vijay in the Secretariat as the Chief Minister," Kumar says, summing up the party’s larger goal. “He wants to show how politics can be played cleanly—to take stock of problems and resolve them. That’s his point of view."

News elections No 'Ayodhya Of The South': How TVK’s CTR Nirmal Kumar Is Drawing A Line In The Thiruparankundram Sand | Exclusive

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