Raghava Lawrence backs Vijay's TVK mandate

Raghava Lawrence weighed in on Vijay’s swearing-in on Saturday with a post on X that paired an MGR-era slogan with a sharp line for detractors. “Makkal Thirpe Mahesan Thirpu,” he wrote, the people’s verdict is god’s verdict, a phrase MGR built into Tamil Nadu’s political memory in the late 1970s. The post, addressed to Vijay’s TVK handle, came hours before the oath ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.

The full message read like a measured prod at the past week’s political wrangling, in which Governor Rajendra Arlekar had held back Vijay’s invitation until TVK’s coalition crossed 120 MLAs. “The will of the people must be respected. Leaders who support and respect this democratic decision will continue to earn the people’s respect. Those who try to create issues or divisions will only attract more disappointment from the public.” Lawrence attached an older photo of himself with Vijay to the post.