Actor, part-time politician and founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, Vijay, is likely to contest from a constituency in the Ramanathapuram district during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Though the elections are still a year away, preparations are already underway. TVK has begun groundwork, including conducting multiple surveys across several constituencies to assess its prospects.
Sources within the party indicate that Vijay is considering Ramanathapuram due to its significant coastal and fishing community population.
The actor-politician has been vocal about issues affecting Tamil Nadu fishermen and has previously addressed public meetings highlighting their plight.
Notably, Vijay spoke out at a major rally in Nagapattinam against the frequent arrests of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
During that address, he openly criticised both the ruling DMK government in the state and the NDA government at the Centre for their inaction.
A senior TVK leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said: “Vijay wants to be among the downtrodden and take up their cause as a politician. Ramanathapuram, being a coastal district constantly in the news due to the recurring arrests of fishermen, is a natural choice for him.”
The decision is also reportedly being shaped by election strategist Prashant Kishor, who is currently serving as an advisor to Vijay. Kishor was also present at the first anniversary celebrations of TVK held recently in Kancheepuram district.
TVK’s political symbolism was further established on August 22, 2024, when Vijay unveiled the party’s official flag and song at its headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai. This was followed by the party’s first major political conference on October 27, 2024, in Vikravandi, Villupuram district. The event drew an estimated crowd of three lakh people. At the Vikravandi rally, Vijay delivered a fiery speech, launching scathing attacks on both the DMK and the BJP.
He labelled the DMK as his political adversary, and the BJP his ideological opponent. He accused the DMK of being a family-run party that exploits the Dravidian identity for personal gain, while also denouncing the BJP’s divisive agenda.
The DMK dismissed these allegations, claiming that Vijay was indirectly aiding the BJP. Senior DMK leaders even referred to TVK as the “C team” of the BJP in an attempt to downplay its political impact. It is noteworthy to mention that Prashant Kishor had previously worked for the DMK during the 2021 Assembly elections. Along with him, ‘Lottery’ Martin’s son-in-law Aadhav Arjuna who had also previously worked as a strategist for the DMK is now in Vijay’s TVK. With the entry of TVK, it is but natural for the anti-DMK votes to split which leads to the conclusion that TVK is the B-Team of DMK unless Vijay strikes an alliance with the AIADMK.
With momentum building, all eyes are now on TVK’s upcoming General Council meeting on March 28. Vijay is expected to unveil the party’s electoral roadmap and future plans for the 2026 Assembly.
–IANS
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.