A cardboard cutout of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor C. Joseph Vijay became the centerpiece of candidate Navalpattu S. Viji alias Vijayakumar’s campaign in Tiruverumbur constituency, Tiruchi district, on Monday, 6 April 2026, highlighting the party founder’s notably sparse ground presence ahead of Tamil Nadu’s 2026 assembly elections.
Viji paraded the life-size cutout through streets to rally supporters, a tactic underscores Vijay’s absence from the political canvassing ground. While candidates like Viji sweat it out door-to-door, Vijay has confined appearances to just a handful of constituencies, citing vague reasons like scheduling conflicts and security concerns – excuses that are “silly” and evasive.
The Hindu captured visuals of the prop, which went viral with detractors mocking TVK as a “cardboard party,” a jab echoing DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s 2025 barb.
A cardboard cut-out of #TamilagaVettriKazhagam (#TVK) chief and actor C. Joseph #Vijay was used by the party’s candidate for #Tiruverumbur constituency, Navalpattu S. Viji alias Vijayakumar, during his #election campaign in #Tiruchi district on Monday.
📸: M. Moorthy / The Hindu pic.twitter.com/MuQsoo8dOR
— The Hindu – Chennai (@THChennai) April 6, 2026
Despite TVK fielding candidates across Tamil Nadu, Joseph Vijay has canvassed fewer than 10 spots, including brief Trichy visits, avoiding broader tours. Observers see this as “too lazy, detached, and afraid” to face voters directly, eroding morale among local hopefuls who trusted his star power.
Viji’s effort reflects wider TVK challenges: leveraging Vijay’s fame remotely while building organizational depth.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
