Published Apr 18, 2026 | 11:34 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 18, 2026 | 12:06 PM
Vijay is currently the only 'casteless' political leader in Tamil Nadu.
Synopsis: Vijay is the only casteless political leader in Tamil Nadu today. His appeal cuts across caste, community and age. Support for him isn’t defined by caste identities. As ironic as it may be, closer to polling day, cash and caste may be the factors that leave TVK trailing behind rival candidates in most seats.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly elections-2026 are unlike anything the state has seen before. The entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), have turned political conventions on their heads.
TVK is a debutant party with no electoral or political experience, no cadres for grassroots connect, and no effective organisational structure to streamline campaigns; yet it has become the most potent opponent to the ruling DMK.
New-age politics demands new solutions, and TVK is heavily relying on new-age tech to make up for the grassroots presence it lacks. Smartphones loaded with social media apps are TVK’s public outreach rallies, and Vijay’s fans — including those underage — are TVK’s star campaigners.
Related: Vijay’s ‘25th century governance’ pitch to Tamil Nadu voters
“A bunch of young boys came by my shop and handed me a whistle. They asked me to give it to my child and vote for Vijay,” recalled Savitha, who runs a small eatery in the Erode West constituency.
Whistle is TVK’s assigned election symbol. Savitha has voted for “Amma’s party” (AIADMK) in previous elections but is keen on voting for a “change” this election.
“Voting for Change” is a common statement you hear from several women and young voters across Tamil Nadu. As if it’s a code to convey that they are voting for Vijay’s TVK this election. Another catchphrase heard is, “Let’s Give Him One Chance and See.”
Whether it is Rekha, a homemaker from Krishnagiri’s Boganapalli, Bhagyalakshmi, a contractual worker for the local municipality from Perambalur or Hemalatha, an accountant from Karur, the stated objective to vote for TVK is “change”.
The story, however, doesn’t end there.
Related: Vijay’s ‘change’ pitch, DMK’s welfare grip and AIADMK’s absence
Travel across Tamil Nadu, and you will see why dismissing TVK would be foolish. Vijay’s popularity has pretty much made this a presidential race-like choice for voters, who, in most cases, do not know the name of the TVK candidate in their constituency.
As far as they are concerned, they are voting for C Joseph Vijay — the man who has entertained them on the big screen for decades. Vijay’s ‘angry young revolutionary’ — a character he has played time and again in his movies — is resonating with first-time voters, women cutting across age, and men who are tired of voting for the same party for years.
Heavyweights of the DMK and AIADMK blocs are being compelled to sweat it out while taking on a new party that’s barely two years old, headed by a leader who doesn’t even step out every day to campaign.
“It is an interesting poll with a new player. The new entrant is turning the conventional poll structure on its head and is drawing support from young and urban, semi-urban voters,” Congress MP Karti Chidambaram told South First.
“One can’t assess the impact it will have immediately. Conventional structure has been bypassed. One cannot be dismissive of him going forward,” he added.
Related: What young voters say about TVK, Vijay
In his backyard of Karaikudi, a four-cornered contest between the DMK bloc, the AIADMK bloc, TVK and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) is a tough tug-of-war.
Any party needs only 30% vote share to win a four-cornered contest, and TVK is placed well despite NTK chief Seeman contesting from the seat that is already being worked by DMK and AIADMK alliances. For TVK, the situation is all too similar in a majority of the seats, even in constituencies witnessing triangular contests.
Several ground surveys and assessments carried out by political parties have put Vijay’s TVK starting off this election at 20% vote share. In some constituencies, it is touching 30% and in others, dipping to 15%. But all assessments point to one reality: Vijay’s TVK is set to poll massively in the upcoming Tamil Nadu election.
Post the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, Tamil Nadu has 5.7 crore eligible voters as identified by the Election Commission. In the 2021 Assembly polls, Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout (excluding postal ballots) of 72.73% as per the ECI’s website. This time, even if there is a voter turnout of 75%, as an estimation, 4.3 crore voters would cast their ballot on 23 April.
Estimates of several parties and agencies, including Tamil Nadu state intelligence, suggest that Vijay’s TVK is starting with 20% of that vote. It roughly translates to 86 lakh votes, if voter turnout touches 75%. The number, perhaps, is a groundbreaking debut for any political party in Tamil Nadu’s history.
Related: The ‘40’ factor favouring Vijay’s TVK
The only real measure of victory in an election is the number of seats a party wins, and here is where TVK might falter. TVK is set to get a considerable vote share but its seat conversion may just not be enough. The import of candidates from other parties, lack of a party structure, excessive dependence on Vijay’s popularity, but more importantly, experience, caste support and influence of candidates of other parties are set to prevent seat conversion in favour of TVK.
Vijay, fascinatingly, is the only political leader in Tamil Nadu today who is casteless in his support. His appeal cuts across caste, community and age lines. Support for him isn’t defined by caste identities. As ironic as it may be, closer to polling day, cash and caste may be the factors that leave TVK trailing behind candidates from DMK or AIADMK blocs in most seats.
“I voted for NTK last election, but now I am voting for Vijay’s party because I believe he will bring about change,” Vijila from Tiruchirapalli East sheepishly told South First, agreeing that her decision is motivated by her adoration for Vijay as a fan.
“But I don’t think his party will win a majority,” she added, aware of how generational voting patterns are unlikely to shift lock, stock and barrel overnight.
Irrespective of whether TVK wins seats in the double digits, if Vijay holds on and sustains his party until the next dance of democracy, Tamil Nadu might have a potent political alternative that can, in reality, uproot the dominance of currently influential parties in the state.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
