Vijay’s bold move in Tamil Nadu: 717 TASMAC outlets near schools, temples to be closed

According to an official release reported by The Hindu, of the 717 outlets identified, 276 shops are located near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions, and 255 near bus terminuses.

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which currently operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across the state, will carry out the shutdown as part of the new directive.

Political backdrop and government formation

The move comes amid significant political developments following a major electoral shift in Tamil Nadu this year, where Vijay’s newly formed political outfit, TVK, secured a decisive mandate.

His government was formed with support from the Indian National Congress and several smaller allies, helping him cross the majority mark in a closely contested assembly election.

Following the results declared on May 4, the state witnessed intense political discussions, including speculation about possible tactical alignments between rival parties such as the DMK and AIADMK.

Vijay’s governance message

During his oath-taking speech, Vijay described himself as a “common man” and pledged transparent and accountable governance. He promised an era of “real secular social justice” and urged the public to allow time for his administration to demonstrate results.

In a striking statement, he said: “There will be no power centre other than me. I will be the only centre of power.” The remark was widely interpreted as a signal of direct control over administrative decision-making.

Financial disclosure and policy outlook

According to his election affidavit, Vijay declared a net worth of ₹624 crore, which includes ₹213 crore in savings accounts and ₹100 crore in fixed deposits.

He has also indicated that his government may release a white paper on Tamil Nadu’s finances, aimed at presenting a transparent assessment of the state’s economic position.