CHENNAI: A significant internal revolt is rocking Thalapathy Vijay’s new political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), as cadres openly demand the removal of General Secretary Bussy Anand. An online campaign, featuring the hashtag #KickOutBussyAnand, has gained traction, with party members accusing the second-in-command of arrogance, inaccessibility, and abandoning the party during its worst crisis—the recent Karur crowd crush tragedy.
Once celebrated as the party’s organizational backbone, Anand now finds himself at the center of the rebellion. The anger boiled over when he made his first public appearance on October 13 after disappearing following the Karur incident. Furious cadres, who felt left to defend the party alone, began referring to him on social media as ‘Thalapathiyarin Theeiya Sakthi’ (The Evil Force of the Commander).
The dissatisfaction was aired in a marathon three-and-a-half-hour X (formerly Twitter) Spaces discussion titled ‘TVK Reality Check,’ which drew over 17,000 listeners.
“Where do we stand as a political party?” one supporter asked. Much of the anger was directed at Anand. “Instead, key leaders went underground after the Karur incident, leaving us directionless,” a TVK member told TNM. “The virtual warriors are fighting against all odds… But what help did we get from the leadership? Absolutely nothing. Our party was crippled, and the reason is Bussy Anand,” said one virtual warrior.
Cadres also accuse Anand of being obsessed with his own image rather than party growth. “We’ve used our energy… to build Bussy Anand’s image,” another member added. “We were made to put up posters for him, and wherever he went, at least 40-plus Fortuner vehicles followed… He wanted to… hog the limelight.”
The digital revolt has been formalized through multiple open letters and petitions addressed directly to TVK Chief Vijay, urging an immediate restructuring. One letter stated the Karur tragedy had “exposed the weaknesses of the party structure” and a “leadership vacuum.”
“We need to strengthen our second-line leadership immediately,” the letter read. “Please maintain distance from ego-driven individuals who isolate you from your cadres… We need diversity in thinking, not just loyalty — people who can challenge, not just cheer.”
Another letter explicitly called for changes to the General Secretary’s role, alleging, “Bussy Anand has proven ineffective in his role.”
The outrage peaked when photos went viral showing Karur East District Secretary Mathiazhagan and functionary Paunraj—both of whom were arrested and are out on bail in connection with the Karur tragedy—falling at Bussy Anand’s feet at the TVK headquarters. This image of subservience intensified the #KickOutBussyAnand campaign, with scores of supporters now demanding that Thalapathy Vijay break his silence and intervene.
