Vijay Says Meeting With School Toppers In Chennai Not About Politics

Against the backdrop of strong observations by the Madras High Court on using children in political campaigns, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday sought to distinguish between recognising academic achievers and political outreach.Honouring Class X and XII toppers at an event in Chennai, Vijay denied that the programme aimed to woo young voters or lay the groundwork for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The awards ceremony, which has been an annual tradition since 2023, saw students receive cash prizes and certificates for their academic achievements.The Madras High Court had recently made strong observations about the use of children in TVK's political campaigns, describing it as being in bad taste.

The remarks had brought renewed scrutiny on the party's engagement with children.Against this backdrop, Vijay appeared keen to dispel any political interpretation of Wednesday's event."I am not here as a Chief Minister. As usual, I am here as your brother," he told the students.