Actor Vijay's Sunday splash: Will 'Thalapathy' disrupt Tamil Nadu's bipolar politics? | Mint

Tamil actor Vijay addressed a mega rally of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Party in Vikravandi on Sunday, marking his formal entry into politics in the state, which has been ruled by the DMK or the AIADMK for decades.

The 50-year-old actor, popular among his fans as Thalapathy, launched TVK in February and is expected to add a new dimension to Tamil Nadu politics in the 2026 Assembly elections. The actor-turned-politician plans to field candidates for all the state's 234 seats in the upcoming assembly elections.

Vijay said TVK would not only be an alternative to existing political players but also a primary force for change in Tamil Nadu. By foraying into politics, Vijay joins the ranks of celebrated actors-turned-politicians in Tamil Nadu, including MG Ramachandran (MGR), Jayalalithaa, Vijayakanth and Kamal Haasan

Will Vijay succeed in disrupting Tamil Nadu's bipolar politics? Mint takes a look:

The Political Landscape of Tamil Nadu

For decades, Tamil Nadu's political landscape was dominated by the two Dravidian parties: the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgham (AIADMK). Together, the two parties' alliances have about three-quarters of a percent of the votes in Tamil Nadu. The remaining vote share of about one-fourth, which is up for grabs, is what Vijay could be eyeing.

Ever since AIADMK founder MGR made his party the DMK's main opponent in the 1970s, many players have tried to disrupt Tamil Nadu's bipolar political system.

Even the BJP, which has achieved remarkable success in almost the entire country, has failed to make a breakthrough in Tamil Nadu. The saffron party-led NDA polled 18.27 percent of the votes in the 2024 general elections, displacing the AIADMK from second place in 12 of the 39 constituencies.

'Captain' Vijayakanth launched Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2005. However, Vijayakanth's impact on Tamil Nadu politics was short-lived. In 2018, actor Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi launched Maiam (MNM) as an alternative to the 'corrupt' DMK and AIADMK. Haasan also failed to make any impact.

“MGR started with the Congress and then had a stint with the DMK before forming his own party. Vijaykant was into philanthropy before becoming a politician. Stardom alone is not enough; there must also be an ideology. We know what happened to Vijayakanth and Haasan,” said a political analyst.

Does Vijay stand out?

As far as numbers are concerned, Vijay made it in his first rally on Sunday. Police estimated the crowd at around 2 lakhs, but eyewitnesses said it was much more than that. But the question that remains is whether or not these numbers translate into votes.

Vijay has forayed into politics at a time when the AIADMK is yet to recover from the death of party icon and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in 2016.

Like MGR, stardom can be Vijay's USP. At 50, age is also on his side. His supporters believe that he took the political plunge at the height of his film career. “I have left the pinnacle of my career behind me and have faith in you, the people,” Vijay said on Sunday.

Political rival of DMK, ideological opponent of BJP

During Sunday's conclave, the superstar declared the ruling DMK – Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – as his party's political rival. He called the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) his party's ideological opponent without directly naming a political party. Vijay criticized DMK's portrayal of the BJP as a fascist force and said Tamil Nadu's ruling party was not fundamentally different.

'You never stop shouting fascism, fascism, and continue to sow fear among minorities. If they practice fascism, are you different?' he asked

Vijay's decision to enter politics has long been linked to his influential father, film director SA Chandrasekhar. The actor's intentions became clear last June when he attended a student rally in Chennai, where he encouraged youth to advocate against accepting cash for votes and educate themselves about leaders like Dravidian icon EV Ramasamy Periyar, former chief minister K Kamaraj and the architect of the Constitution. , BR Ambedkar.

During Sunday's meeting, the first of his party, Vijay invoked all three icons. “Our ideological opponents are those who divide people along lines of religion, caste, race, gender and wealth,” Vijay said on Sunday, referring to the BJP.

Ideology: A mix of Dravidian ideas and Tamil nationalism

Vijay said TVK would operate on secular and socially inclusive principles. The party's objectives include upholding democracy, social justice, secularism, equality, social harmony, education and empowerment of women, rational mindset, bilingual policy, state autonomy, conservation of natural resources, climate-conscious development, boosting production and promoting sustainable development. addiction free tamil nadu.

At its first meeting, Vijay's party appears to be defending an ideology that is a mix of Dravidian ideas and Tamil nationalism.

According to political analyst Sumanth Raman, Vijay hit a six in the first over. “That means he has started well. He could score a hundred or be dismissed in the third over. We don't know yet. We have to wait and watch,” Raman said.

Will Vijay succeed in breaking the DMK-AIADMK revolving door of Tamil Nadu politics, only time will tell. But according to Raman, his entry has made politics in Tamil Nadu more interesting.

“And don't forget that the DMK in Tamil Nadu, like the BJP in the Hindi belt, is a formidable electoral fighting machine. Only a complete political novice will underestimate his survival skills,” Raman said.