CHENNAI: If early trends hold, actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, could emerge as a significant new force in Tamil Nadu politics. Early trends indicated an advantage for TVK founder Vijay in both Tiruchi (East) and Perambur constituencies. TVK pushed AIADMK to third position in several constituencies. In its first-ever assembly election, TVK appears to be converting Vijay’s massive popularity into electoral gains at scale. The party’s strong showing signals a potential break from Tamil Nadu’s decades-old bipolar politics dominated by the DMK and AIADMK. The state, which voted in a single phase on April 23, is witnessing counting for all 234 seats on Monday, with early trends already indicating a significant churn in voter preferences.For decades, politics in Tamil Nadu has revolved around two Dravidian giants — DMK and AIADMK. Election after election, new entrants have tried to break this duopoly, but most have struggled to make a lasting impact. In the 2026 assembly elections, the bipolar contest was disrupted by a high-profile cinematic entry, as actor-turned-politician Vijay Thalapathy positioned himself as an alternative for the people in the state.
