Chennai | January 19, 2026
Political tensions in Tamil Nadu escalated on Monday after senior DMK leader and former Rajya Sabha MP TKS Elangovan accused the central government of misusing investigative agencies to exert political pressure on actor and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay Thalapathy.
The claim comes months before the state heads into a highly competitive Assembly election.
Speaking to reporters, Elangovan alleged that the BJP-led central government was using agencies such as the CBI to influence Vijay Thalapathy’s political decisions following his recent appearance before the agency in New Delhi.
He claimed that the BJP was “pressuring and intimidating” the actor-turned-politician for political gain.
“People know very well how the BJP operates. They threaten leaders and expect them to switch sides,” he said.
Elangovan Raises Questions Over ‘Jana Nayagan’ Censorship Delay
Elangovan also commented on the controversy surrounding Vijay Thalapathy’s upcoming film ‘Jana Nayagan’, which has yet to receive a censor certificate.
He alleged that the delay was “deliberate” and politically motivated, aimed at pushing Thalapathy closer to the BJP.
He compared the BJP to a “washing machine,” accusing it of targeting leaders with allegations and later dropping charges once they align politically with the party.
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Plea on ‘Jana Nayagan’
Elangovan’s remarks came shortly after the Supreme Court declined to hear a petition filed by the producers of Jana Nayagan challenging a Madras High Court order that temporarily halted the film’s censor certification process.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A.G. Masih directed the High Court to decide the matter by January 20.
The film, originally scheduled for a Pongal release on January 9, is expected to be Vijay Thalapathy’s last film before fully entering active politics.
Why Vijay Thalapathy Was Questioned by the CBI
On Monday, Vijay Thalapathy appeared before the CBI office in Delhi in connection with the Karur stampede case, where 41 people died during a political event in September 2025.
Investigators questioned him regarding the event’s arrangements, the sequence of incidents on September 27, 2025, and his role in the program’s organization.
This was not his first round of questioning; he had previously been summoned in the same case.
Vijay Thalapathy is currently staying at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi.
