Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
In a dramatic political shift, actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay has rewritten the rules of Tamil Nadu politics. His party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), has crossed the crucial 100-seat mark in the 234-member Assembly—an extraordinary feat achieved without any alliance support.
This milestone is being described as historic, as Vijay has taken on both the formidable cadre-based machinery of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the grassroots strength of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)—and emerged victorious on his own.
The achievement draws parallels with the political breakthrough of M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), who, nearly five decades ago, secured a full majority in his very first election after launching a new party. Vijay appears to have revived that “cinema-to-politics” legacy with a modern twist.
Unlike Kamal Haasan, who leaned toward intellectual politics, or Chiranjeevi, who struggled to sustain political momentum, Vijay has relied on mass appeal. Positioning his “Thalapathy” persona as that of a protector figure, he successfully connected with young voters across the state.
While past stars like Kamal Haasan and Vijayakanth found themselves squeezed in the bipolar contest between DMK and AIADMK, Vijay has broken through that entrenched system. His party’s triple-digit performance signals a major shift in voter sentiment, with the electorate now placing trust in a fresh, cinematic-driven political vision.
With this result, Vijay has not just entered politics—he has firmly established himself as Tamil Nadu’s newest power centre.
