Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has said members who consume alcohol should not attend the party’s first state conference that is scheduled to be held on October 27. In an advisory issued to members, the party has also set some rules of etiquette for those attending the event. TVK general secretary and former MLA from Puducherry, N Anand, issued the advisory as per actor and TVK president Vijay’s directions.

According to TVK leaders, Anand has said that party cadres must desist from attending the first state conference if they consume alcohol. Party sources also said that Anand has directed the cadre to provide adequate protection and support to women members and sympathisers who attend the conference.

The advisory has also reportedly directed the cadre to ensure proper road etiquette and not to disturb other vehicles. Cadre arriving at the venue on two-wheelers must also ensure that they do not indulge in any bike stunts, the advisory said.

The TVK advisory also asked the members to provide adequate facilities to the medical team and the Fire & Rescue service personnel who will be on duty during the conference. Vijay had earlier announced that the political ideology of the party, its state office-bearers, and the policy-based action plan will be announced at the conference.

Vijay had stated, “Our first ever state conference will be celebrated as a political festival and a celebration of ideologies that will guide us and the goals that we will achieve. The conference will spell out the ideology based on which the party will function.“ He also said that the preparatory works for the conference had already commenced and that this would be accelerated soon.

On August 14, TNM’s political newsletter Powertrip reported that Vijay was planning to hold the conference as a show of strength by inviting lakhs of supporters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. TNM reported that the TVK had finalised a property in Vikravandi in Villupuram district for the venue.

It may be recalled that the conference was earlier scheduled to be held on September 23 but was postponed due to various factors, including permission-related issues.

TVK received the Election Commission of India (ECI ) recognition on September 8. The party had in May 2024 published legal notices and invited stakeholders to express objections if any to the party’s registration. Vijay announced his party in February but said that TVK would not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as the party aimed to contest the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

He had then said that his fan club, the All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakam (AITVMI), has been working for the welfare of the people for many years but that it cannot bring full-fledged social, economic, and political reforms on its own and for that political power was required.

In August, Vijay released his party flag, which has red on top and bottom with yellow in the middle. A flower resembling the Vaagai surrounded by 28 stars at the centre with two trumpeting tuskers facing each other on either side are depicted on the flag. It may be noted that ancient Tamil kings used to wear Vaagai flower garlands to symbolise victory.

In the last local body polls in 2021, the AITVMI won 115 of the 169 seats it contested. Interestingly, Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan’s party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and actor and director Seeman’s Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) drew a blank in those polls.

(With inputs from IANS)