Thalapathy Vijay Declared Chief Ministerial Candidate By TVK For 2026 TN Elections
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has officially announced its party president, actor-turned-politician Vijay, as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections.
The decision was confirmed through a special resolution passed during the party’s State Executive Committee meeting held at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, on Saturday.
The meeting, chaired by Vijay himself, also set the stage for a massive state-level conference scheduled for next month. This announcement marks a significant milestone in Vijay’s political journey, which began with the transformation of his fan movement, Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, into a full-fledged political organisation in early 2024.
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From its inception, the party has championed a platform of “Secular Social Justice”, aligning itself ideologically with Ambedkarism, Periyarism, and Marxist principles.
It advocates for federalism, decentralisation of power, opposition to caste and communal politics, and a two-language policy. TVK has taken a strong stance against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), and what it terms the overreach of the Governor’s office in state affairs.
The party’s first major political conference, held in Vikravandi in October 2024, drew a crowd of over 800,000 people and showcased large portraits of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Periyar, Kamaraj, and Velu Nachiyar, asserting them as ideological pillars.
During the event, Vijay criticised both the BJP and DMK, labelling the former as an “ideological opponent” and the latter as a “political adversary” mired in corruption and dynastic politics.
TVK’s rapid expansion continued into 2025 with a significant organisational restructuring. On 13 February 2025, the party announced a major statewide grassroots campaign, aiming to appoint over 70,000 booth-level agents.
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In April, Vijay addressed party functionaries in Coimbatore, calling on cadres to maintain transparency, reject bribery, and focus on public service as a path to gaining trust.
In June 2025, TVK inducted several retired bureaucrats, former MLAs, and professionals into its fold, including former IRS officer K.G. Arunraj, who was appointed General Secretary for Propaganda and Policy Development, signalling a further professionalisation of the party’s electoral machinery.
On July 4, taking to social media, Thalapathy Vijay issued an open letter addressed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin, urging him to meet the residents of Parandur who have been protesting the proposed 5,000-acre airport project since 2022.
The letter highlighted the villagers’ long-standing concerns over displacement and loss of livelihood, noting that the protest has crossed the 1,000-day mark. Citing environmental risks and public unrest, Vijay warned that if the government continues to ignore the people’s plea, he would personally lead the villagers to the Secretariat.
மாண்புமிகு @CMOTamilnadu திரு. @mkstalin அவர்களுக்கு… pic.twitter.com/C7YwjTxffg
— TVK Vijay (@TVKVijayHQ) July 4, 2025
Vijay has consistently spoken out on pressing public issues, including education, sanitation, women’s safety, and rural justice. He has visited hooch tragedy victims, condemned caste and gender-based violence, and organised academic award functions to promote education as a fundamental right. He has also called for shifting education and health back to the State List and continues to oppose centralisation trends. However, Vijay’s political entry has drawn a mixed response from the people of Tamil Nadu, earning both praise and criticism in equal measure.
