Published Apr 15, 2026 | 8:43 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 15, 2026 | 8:46 AM
Vijay, MK Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Synopsis: With the Assembly elections nearing, South First’s visit to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu has uncovered differing views regarding people’s choices. While several people support the ruling DMK for their welfare schemes, there are also people who support AIADMK leaders. Moreover, there are also people who are ready to consider TVK or BJP, expecting change.
“We have voted only for the DMK so far. From now on, we want to vote for whoever provides good governance,” 57-year-old Muruga Selvi from Sivakasi constituency in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu told South First.
Selvi does not know who is contesting from either the DMK or AIADMK in her constituency. For her, the DMK is Kalaignar’s party, and the AIADMK is the party of MGR and Jayalalithaa.
Not just Muruga Selvi, but lakhs of voters like her across Tamil Nadu identify these two parties primarily through their symbols, the Rising Sun and the Two Leaves. Depending on the mood of each election, they usually vote for one of these two symbols.
With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for 23 April, South First spoke to several people from southern Tamil Nadu districts such as Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, and Tenkasi, and several interesting ground realities emerged.
Also Read: ‘Neither Vijay nor anyone else is a threat to DMK’, says Thangam Thennarasu
Actor Vijay, who recently launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has become one of the major talking points ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. With lakhs of his fans transforming into party cadres, the key question is whether this support will convert into votes. According to political analysts, this election will be an important test of Vijay’s strength.
Meanwhile, based on what people told South First, from youngsters to older voters, many are supporting Vijay based on the political narrative of “change” that the TVK is putting forward.
Kalpana Devi, a 20-year-old first-time voter from Sivakasi, said: “There are many issues in Tamil Nadu, including liquor shops, sexual crimes and ganja-related problems. However, the rulers have not addressed them. Further, even though there are many welfare schemes, they have not fully reached everyone. So a change must come. If Vijay comes, change will happen.”
Similarly, 24-year-old Thanga Pavithra from Virudhunagar said, “Our fireworks industry is one where life is not guaranteed. But even basic fire and safety facilities are not available as needed. No MLA has visited our area after the elections so far. So we believe that if TVK comes to power, these things will change.”
Along with young voters, voters who have so far supported DMK and AIADMK are also shifting towards Vijay’s party, expecting change.
Chellamma, a 60-year-old from Virudhunagar constituency, said, “We have voted only for the DMK so far. But now we are going to vote for Vijay.”
When asked why, she says, “There should be a change in government. Let a new government come.”
Ganesh, a 30-year-old from Srivilliputhur, has voted for AIADMK since he got his voter ID, but said that he will vote for Vijay this time, “I have always voted for the Two Leaves symbol. But this time, I am going to vote for TVK. A change should come.”
When asked what kind of change he expected, his answer was simple: “They have ruled for so many years. Let someone new come.”
Meanwhile, there also existed several voices that supported AIADMK’s KT Rajenthra Balaji.
“KT Rajenthra Balaji, during his ten years as a minister, ensured industrial growth for us. But in the last five years, since a different party came to power, there has been no such progress — it has slowed down. So my vote will be for Rajenthra Balaji,” said Saravana Perumal, a lawyer and fireworks trader from Sivakasi.
Sivakasi has hundreds of fireworks units, along with several related industries and small and micro enterprises. However, people alleged that these businesses face multiple layers of unofficial payments — from bribes for obtaining licences to charges during the export of goods.
“Only AIADMK’s Rajenthra Balaji has spoken in support of fireworks companies. So it will be good if he comes back. My vote is for him,” said Muniyandi from Sivakasi.
In Virudhunagar district, although AIADMK’s Rajenthra Balaji and DMK ministers Thangam Thennarasu and KKSSR Ramachandran have personal influence, the growing support for Vijay across Tamil Nadu has become a factor that could create an impact.
Meanwhile, the situation in Thoothukudi was different.
Recently, on 8 April, thousands gathered to see Vijay during his election campaign in the Thoothukudi constituency. It was described as the largest crowd seen in Vijay’s rallies so far, and related photos were widely circulated. Anyone looking at those images might get the first impression that TVK would win in Thoothukudi. However, the ground reality suggests otherwise.
Santhi, a 35-year-old from Thoothukudi, who was previously associated with Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), said she joined DMK after seeing its women’s welfare schemes. In her view, Geetha Jeevan should be reelected as MLA, and if DMK comes to power again, more welfare schemes for women will be implemented.
When asked about Vijay, she said, “I like Vijay as an actor. But I don’t know what he understands about politics. I don’t know what he will do if he comes to power. He has no experience. We will vote only for those who stand among the people and work.”
While Vijay is widely recognised as the face of TVK across Tamil Nadu, at the local level, the party lacks identifiable leaders. People are unaware of whom they could approach if a new MLA is elected. Therefore, they prefer influential individuals from parties like DMK and AIADMK who are already accessible and work closely with the public.
Antonyammal, a 55-year-old fish vendor from Thoothukudi, raised the concern: “If we have a problem, we can directly go and tell Geetha Jeevan. If others come, where will we go searching for them?”
She added that she has voted for DMK for the past three elections and said its welfare schemes have helped her, “They help us in difficult times. We get ₹1,000 every month. Recently, they gave ₹5,000, which I used to pay rent. So I will vote for them again.”
Even though Vijaya and the AIADMK have made similar promises, several people are not ready to trust them.
Divya, a 30-year-old from Thoothukudi, said, “DMK provides breakfast schemes and has promised to double the women’s assistance amount. They have also said that they will increase old-age benefits. Since they have already implemented many such welfare schemes, I support them.”
She firmly added that even if others promise the same, there is no certainty that they will deliver it.
However, not everyone in Thoothukudi supports DMK. Andrew, a 29-year-old, said he will vote for TVK for change, “Everyone talks about DMK and AIADMK, but we need basic infrastructure, schools, colleges, and hospitals to be improved to private-level standards. For that change, I will vote for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.”
At the same time, when asked about existing welfare schemes, he admitted that he is unsure how effectively they have reached people.
Vijay’s entry is also likely to negatively impact NTK, which had been attracting youth.
Praveen from Thoothukudi, who had voted twice for NTK in the previous elections, said he will vote for Vijay this time, “Not everyone accepts what Seeman says. His ideas don’t suit everyone. He talks about giving jobs like goat and cattle rearing, uneducated people may accept that, but educated people will question why they should study and then do that. So it does not work for me. This time, I will support Vijay.”
Also Read: Vijay’s TVK will get crushed between AIADMK, DMK: KT Rajenthra Bhalaji
Compared to other southern districts, areas like Tenkasi and Kanyakumari show relatively higher support for the BJP.
People in the Tenkasi district have several long-standing demands, including issues related to mineral extraction, water scarcity, and delayed infrastructure development.
Thandayuthapani from Vasudevanallur constituency said, “Our village’s long-standing demand is to bring irrigation water from the Western Ghats through the Senbagavalli dam. No one has fulfilled this so far. Now, BJP candidate Anandan has promised to do it, so my vote will go to the BJP.”
At the same time, Samuthiram, an elderly man above 80 and a former DMK supporter, said he has now shifted to the BJP. He had once pledged his belongings to attend DMK conferences, but now supports the BJP due to dissatisfaction with DMK’s stance on religious matters.
“When DMK kept calling everything communal, I moved away and started supporting the BJP. Especially, calling the Karthigai Deepam lighting stone a survey stone was wrong,” he said.
Murugan, a farmer from Sivagiri, raised concerns about the quality of the ration rice and the need to improve government schools. Yet, he clearly said, “I will vote for Stalin.”
Similarly, Pattammal, a 50-year-old from Kadayanallur, said that even though her family supports AIADMK, she will vote for DMK, “The house I live in was given by Karunanidhi. I proudly tell everyone that. Out of gratitude, I will vote for the Rising Sun.”
When asked about Vijay, she said that his entry into politics is his choice, and she has no opinion on it.
Marimuthu (A) Durai from the same constituency said, “There is no chance for Vijay here. In Tenkasi, the Rising Sun will win. Even if there are issues here and there, DMK fixes them from time to time. So my vote is for the Rising Sun.”
On one hand, Vijay, who is up for his first fight in electoral politics, has been gaining support from both DMK and AIADMK voter bases. Not only youth but also older voters who have voted multiple times for DMK and AIADMK said they are supporting Vijay this time in the hope of change.
At the same time, while a small section of voters remains with AIADMK, many female voters feel that while they preferred the party during Jayalalithaa’s period, they no longer see it as a viable option. DMK’s welfare measures have overshadowed AIADMK’s past image, and its relative absence on the ground has made it easier for both DMK and TVK to gain support.
Similarly, some youngsters who previously supported NTK are now shifting, making way towards Vijay.
At the same time, in constituencies like Thoothukudi, where DMK has directly worked on the ground and won, voters see their MLAs as accessible and continue to support the party based on that trust.
In areas where long-pending demands remain unresolved, people are willing to give opportunities to parties like the BJP and TVK, believing they might address those issues.
Beyond caste, status, and individual influence, voters in southern districts are preparing to choose their representatives in the 2026 Assembly elections based on two key factors: Long-standing local demands and a growing desire for new political faces.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
