'No grey area between good and bad': Tamil Nadu CM Vijay explains his black-and-white suits

Speaking at a thanksgiving rally in Tiruchirappalli after leading the TVK to a historic electoral victory, Vijay said he believes there can be no grey area between good and bad, and that his attire symbolises his commitment to making clear and principled decisions in government.

The visit marked Vijay's first major public address since assuming office and came in the same city from where he had kicked off his election campaign in September 2025.

Massive welcome in campaign launch city

Thousands of supporters gathered outside Tiruchirappalli airport hours before Vijay's arrival, greeting him with loud cheers and chants of "Vijay! Vijay!" as he began a roadshow through the city.

The chief minister's convoy travelled more than 10 kilometres from the airport to St Joseph's College, drawing large crowds along the route.

Vijay was received by ministers Aadhav Arjuna and S. Ramesh, as well as Lok Sabha MP Durai Vaiko.

Beginning his speech with a simple "Thank you", Vijay acknowledged the role voters played in helping TVK break the decades-long dominance of Tamil Nadu's traditional political rivals.

"You ignored those who have cheated you all these years. You made me victorious. For this, I bow before you and thank you," he told supporters.

Seeks stronger mandate for future elections

While celebrating the party's electoral success, Vijay noted that TVK did not secure enough legislators to form a government on its own and currently leads a coalition administration.

The chief minister expressed confidence that voters would continue to support his party after assessing its performance in office.

"It would have helped a lot had TVK received more support. In future elections, I strongly believe I can get the support of all of you. I am confident you will appreciate the kind of governance I will deliver," he said.

Vijay said his government's focus would be on delivering transparent and effective governance, seeking to justify the faith reposed in him by voters.

Vijay defends his signature black-and-white suit

The chief minister also responded to criticism from political opponents over his choice of attire at official events.

Addressing the issue directly, Vijay said the black-and-white colour combination of his suits symbolised his approach to governance.

"My suit colour is always black and white. The message is that I will see everything in black and white. There is no in-between between good and bad," he said.

The thanksgiving tour began in Tiruchirappalli as a symbolic gesture to the constituency that played a key role in his political rise.

Vijay had contested from both Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur in the Assembly election, winning both seats before resigning from Tiruchirappalli East and retaining the Perambur constituency in Chennai.