Udhayanidhi Stalin Critiques Focus on Vijay's Style Over Policies

As Vijay’s Suit and Lunchbox Trends, Udhayanidhi Stalin Criticizes Focus on ‘Reels and Content’

A month into Tamil Nadu’s first non-Dravidian government in over five decades, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay continues to dominate social media conversations, not for his policies, but for his wardrobe and lunchbox.

The black suit Vijay wore during his swearing-in ceremony has become a focal point of online discussions. Designed by Sabir Ahmed, the suit was modeled on a look from Vijay’s film Beast, with the Chief Minister himself selecting the color black to symbolize power and authority. This choice marked a departure from the traditional white shirt and veshti worn by Tamil Nadu chief ministers during their oath-taking ceremonies.

The outfit soon gained commercial traction when a Chennai store began selling a combo package replicating Vijay’s jacket, shirt, belt, shoes, and trousers for ₹3,999. Although the promotional flyer went viral, the shop later quietly removed it.

Likewise, photos of Vijay eating a simple home-cooked meal from a tiffin box at his Secretariat desk have sparked widespread admiration online. Many praised his down-to-earth approach, highlighting his use of hands instead of cutlery and reports of him maintaining regular office hours while ensuring his convoy does not disrupt traffic. These images have been interpreted as signs of a leader uninterested in VIP privileges.

However, this focus on Vijay’s personal choices has drawn criticism from opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin. The DMK leader has accused the TVK government of being stuck in “campaign mode,” treating governance as content rather than addressing pressing issues in Tamil Nadu. “TVK fans are trending about Thalapathy Vijay’s cost suit, what he’s eating, but CM must talk on issues of Tamil Nadu,” Udhayanidhi said, adding that “everything is reels, everything is content for them.”

Interestingly, before their political rivalry, Udhayanidhi Stalin had produced Vijay’s 2008 film Kuruvi, marking his debut as a film producer.

As hashtags continue to trend on social media, the debate over style versus substance in Tamil Nadu’s governance remains a hot topic.