Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko on Sunday selected MDMK party cadre from districts under Tirunelveli zone, in Kalingapatti, Tenkasi district, to take part in the "Samathuva Nadai Payanam" (padayatra) from Tiruchi on January 2, ending in Madurai on January 12.

Addressing the media, Mr. Vaiko said, "Sanatana forces, RSS and the Hindutva groups are attempting, under the illusion that it is possible to wipe out the Dravidian movement from Tamil Nadu. Protecting the Dravidian movement is a responsibility that stands before my eyes and having worked for the movement for 61 years, I decided nine years ago that safeguarding the Dravidian movement must be my duty. That is why we formed an alliance with the DMK and we remain firmly committed to it."

He observed that the DMK-led alliance will secure a good victory with a clear majority in 2026 Assembly elections.

Mr. Vaiko added that a new wave is emerging in Tamil Nadu's politics. "Even after 41 people died, he (TVK president Vijay) irresponsibly fled to Chennai. Such an unprecedented incident, where affected people were brought to his place, so he could offer condolences. This has never happened in the history of Tamil Nadu," he said.

He further noted that in all the walkathons Mr. Vaiko has conducted, not a single untoward incident has taken place and none will occur. "We do not engage in absurd walkathons where one walks just one kilometre inside a village and then travels by car to the next village. We undertake the walk with complete sincerity," he noted.