To understand TVK’s journey over the past year, South First spoke to Rajmohan, the party’s newly appointed "propaganda secretary".
Published Feb 21, 2025 | 11:42 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 21, 2025 | 11:42 AM
Tamil actor and founder of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, Vijay
Synopsis: A year after actor Vijay launched Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), questions remain about its political impact. While his massive fan base fuelled early momentum, doubts persist about about the party’s ideological clarity, grassroots strength, and financial structure. Amidst comparisons to MGR, analysts argue sustained political engagement is key.
A while ago, a 30-year-old from Chennai split his social media feed between two passions: Tamil actor Vijay, whom he had idolised since childhood, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Then his idol announced his own political party, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). The same fan, who had once been vocal in his support for the BJP, posted a picture of himself posing with a TVK flag.
How did someone who championed the BJP, a right-wing Hindutva-driven party, suddenly embrace a party rooted in Dravidian and Periyarist ideology – the ideological opposite of the BJP?
When asked, he explained with a smile: “In Tamil Nadu politics, my rival is the DMK. So, when it comes to the state, I’m with TVK. But at the national level, I still support the BJP.”
It has been a year since TVK’s launch, when Vijay declared, “We don’t want people to see us as amateurs.”
But where does the party actually stand in Tamil Nadu’s fiercely competitive political landscape? How well have Vijay’s film fans-turned-party workers transitioned into real political ground forces?
Are they driven by his ideology or just his star power? And do comparisons to Tamil cinema legend and former chief minister MG Ramachandran (MGR) hold up under scrutiny?
To understand TVK’s journey over the past year, South First spoke to Rajmohan, the party’s newly appointed propaganda secretary.
“We are like fresh milk – pure and unadulterated,” Rajmohan began in typical cinematic style. “We’ve spent our first year crawling like a newborn, but we’ve grown stronger.”
He proudly highlighted how TVK had attracted thousands of new members and how Vijay’s statements on social issues had sparked national conversations.
When asked about Vijay’s greatest strength as a politician, Rajmohan was clear: “His fans.” According to him, TVK has added nearly one crore members in just a year.
TVK propaganda secretary Rajmohan.
But does fan loyalty automatically translate into political support? Senior journalist and political analyst Priyan Srinivasan isn’t so sure.
“Even the AIADMK claims to have around 1.5 crore party workers, but they secured only 80 lakh votes in the last election. Fan following doesn’t always equal votes,” he pointed out.
Rajmohan, however, argued that TVK has a distinct advantage. He cited data from Tamil Nadu’s chief electoral officer, Archana Patnaik, noting that of the 6.15 crore voters in the state, 1.19 crore are first-time voters.
“When Kamal Haasan started his party, there was a generational gap between his supporters and young voters. But Vijay’s fan base largely overlaps with this new voter demographic,” Rajmohan claimed.
It’s an interesting equation – especially given TVK’s attempts to position Vijay as the next MGR.
Citing some unfamiliar surveys, Rajmohan confidently stated that TVK could secure 19 percent of votes if elections were held today.
Priyan, though, remains sceptical. “Vijay hasn’t fully dived into politics yet. Without a solid grassroots network, I doubt TVK can even cross the 10 percent mark,” he argued.
He also referred to strategist Prashant Kishor’s projections, which estimated TVK could secure 15 percent -20 percent of votes.
“That’s based on two factors: anti-DMK votes and some support from anti-BJP voters since Vijay has distanced himself ideologically from the BJP.
“But beyond that, only sustained political engagement and building a strong party structure will help Vijay cross the 10 percent -12 percent vote share,” Priyan added.
At TVK’s first convention on 27 October 2024, Vijay cited five past leaders as the ideological pillars of the party: EV Ramasamy, Velu Nachiyar, Dr BR Ambedkar, K Kamaraj, and Anjalai Ammal.
The move largely aligned TVK with Tamil Nadu’s traditional Dravidian political ideology. Reports even suggested that Vijay had been reading Ambedkar’s works to deepen his understanding.
Yet, while Vijay is transitioning from superstar to political leader, his fans are also undergoing their own shift – from loyal supporters to party cadre.
But there’s an important question: how deeply do these grassroots workers understand TVK’s ideological stance? In politics, a leader’s vision alone isn’t enough; clarity and commitment at the grassroots are essential.
When South First posed this question to Rajmohan, TVK’s propaganda secretary, he was quick to respond. “Over the past year, we’ve been training our cadres based on the principles of our ideological leaders.
“Through workshops and training sessions, we’ve educated them on the path this party is taking.”
However, the ground reality appears more complex. A district secretary from the party’s northern zone, who requested anonymity, offered a starkly different perspective.
“The leaders at the top will talk about ideology. But for the grassroots workers, nothing matters beyond Vijay’s face. That’s all they see.”
Priyan echoed similar concerns. “It was commendable when Vijay announced his ideological icons. But when NTK leader Seeman made controversial remarks about Periyar recently, TVK remained silent,” Priyan noted.
“How can a party that claims Periyar as its ideological leader ignore such comments? This raises doubts about Vijay’s own ideological clarity.”
While national parties like the BJP take “missed call” route to drive membership numbers, TVK claims to have a different approach. Rajmohan said TVK follows a structured process for enrolling new members.
“From enrolling as a member to taking on responsibilities within the party, everything happens through interviews,” he said, adding that even he was interviewed before joining.
According to him, the selection process involves leaders at different levels – state, district, regional, and zonal – interviewing prospective members. Questions reportedly include focus on an applicant’s knowledge of current political affairs and personal political stance.
However, a district secretary painted a different picture. He revealed that existing data from Vijay’s fan clubs – many of which have been converted into party branches – serve as the primary membership base. “Currently, data sets from only these fan clubs are with district leaders. New members who join directly through the TVK app are registered with the central leadership, and that information will be shared with district units only when necessary,” he explained.
In other words, as long as someone has a voter ID, they can become a member and no stringent vetting required.
One of the fundamental aspects of running a political party is securing adequate funding. Even organising a simple meeting incurs expenses that run into thousands.
Yet, TVK doesn’t appear to have any plan for funding and instead depends entirely on Vijay.
“The leader is personally overseeing all expenses. With reports claiming he earns ₹200 crore per film, he is currently using his own hard-earned money to run party operations,” Rajmohan remarked.
A district secretary from the northern region seemed puzzled by the question itself, responding, “Why do we even need party funds to run the show?” Those boers in closely, including senior journalists, wonder if the casual approach with which fan clubs are run has simply been carried over into TVK’s political operations as well, without any real shift in mindset or structure.
Since its formation, TVK has deliberately kept a low profile, choosing not to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections or the Erode bypoll. The leadership maintains that their primary goal is the 2026 state assembly elections.
Recently, the party inducted Adhav Arjuna, who left Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), appointing him as the general secretary of the election wing.
Priyan noted that Vijay must stay closely informed about grassroots realities.
“If a leader relies solely on intermediaries for information, they can be easily misled,” he said.
“He must step out of his inner circle, meet the people, engage with his cadre, and understand the ground realities himself. Only then can he secure his place in mainstream politics.” He also had a word of caution for Vijay.
“Vijay needs to be cautious. John Arokiyasamy, Adhav Arjuna, and Prashant Kishor all have distinct and potentially conflicting agendas. Vijay risks being pulled in different directions. This could lead to his political downfall if he isn’t careful.” His statement comes in the context of a meeting between Prashant Kishor and Vijay recently in Chennai.
Meanwhile, in a move that has raised eyebrows, Vijay was recently granted Y-category security. While it’s unclear whether the actor-turned-politician requested this security or if it was strategically offered by the BJP, questions linger about the underlying motives.
Priyan warns that the BJP could use this gesture to cast doubts on Vijay’s political integrity. “If Vijay openly addresses how this security was granted, it would help clear the air. Otherwise, the BJP may use this to undermine his credibility,” he noted.
Ultimately, Priyan emphasised that Vijay’s long-term political success hinges on strengthening TVK’s internal structure and building direct grassroots connections.
“For Vijay, the foundation of future political success lies in stepping into the field, meeting his supporters, and transforming his fan base into a solid political cadre,” he said.
“Listening to advisors is fine, but firsthand experience of ground-level dynamics is irreplaceable.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
