DMK’s IT wing posted a graphic on October 14, 2026, depicting Chief Minister Vijay mimicking the RSS Dhwaj Pranam—a salute that places the right hand on the chest and bows the head. The image, shared by the DMK’s official handle, equated Vijay’s signature “slice” gesture with the symbolic flag salute used by RSS functionaries.
The gesture’s history begins in March 2026 when then‑Chief Minister M.K. Stalin raised his hand in a slicing motion after concluding seat‑sharing talks at the party headquarters in Chennai. Three months later, Vijay, now the chief minister, replicated the gesture during a heated debate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, drawing cheers from his party benches and sparking viral memes.
Reactions were swift. DMK leadership condemned Vijay’s imitation as a “vile” appropriation of their leader’s signal, while the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) embraced the move, posting videos of party workers echoing the hand sign. Social media erupted with memes, and several RSS‑aligned groups voiced support for the salute, further polarising the political landscape.
The DMK’s framing of Vijay as an RSS “adopted child” is part of a broader strategy to undermine his image before the 2027 state elections. By linking his public persona to the RSS, the party aims to consolidate anti‑Vijay sentiment among voters who view the RSS as a nationalistic threat.