The recent wave of admiration showered by the Dravidian ecosystem on actor Suriya and his Agaram Foundation, with Sun TV giving it prime coverage and notable Periyarist and anti-Hindu leaning figures like Kamal Haasan participating in the event, had many observers suspecting something strategic was underway. Now, the political intent behind the move appears to be gradually unfolding.
According to emerging reports, the DMK is considering fielding actor Suriya in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, potentially from a constituency in Coimbatore, with the goal of weakening the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the Kongu belt a region traditionally challenging for the DMK, and also to counter part-time politician Vijay’s TVK.
Historically, the DMK has formed the government six times: in 1967, 1971, 1989, 1996, 2006, and most recently in 2021. However, except for the 1967–71 period, the party has never secured back-to-back victories in state elections. Opposition parties frequently use this as a point of criticism, framing the DMK as incapable of sustaining long-term electoral momentum.
To counter this narrative and aim for a second consecutive term, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is reportedly going all-in for 2026. Though the AIADMK is currently fragmented and lacks a cohesive alliance, the BJP tie-up and rising popularity of actor turned politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), especially in western districts, pose a genuine threat. Some surveys even suggest TVK could garner over 10% of the vote share.
In light of this, DMK is targeting a sweeping majority possibly over 200 seats. However, the northern and western regions remain a political hurdle. With PMK’s internal rifts offering a potential opening in the north, DMK is also focused on shoring up support in the Kongu zone, where the party has historically struggled.
Previously, the party inducted Divya Sathyaraj, daughter of actor Sathyaraj to appeal to voters in the Kongu region. Now, attention has turned to actor Suriya, whose family including Sivakumar, Jyothika, and Karthi has a strong public image and wide reach, particularly in the region.
Sources suggest that if Suriya declines to contest, the DMK may consider fielding another member of the Sivakumar family. This should explain the recent Agaram Foundation PR event and also Suriya’s special show in Zee Tamizh where beneficiaries gave emotional testimonies.
Adding to the calculation is the Gounder community background of Sivakumar, which is a dominant caste in the Kongu region. The DMK reportedly believes this caste factor, combined with celebrity appeal, could help counter both the AIADMK-BJP alliance and the rising influence of Vijay’s TVK in districts like Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, and Nilgiris.
All signs point to the DMK preparing a major electoral move, and actor Suriya or someone from his family might just be the next political trump card.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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