EDITORIAL
TVK’s performance will make for an interesting subject for political science students
Of all the recent assembly election results, the biggest shocker came from Tamil Nadu. Elbowing out two traditional Dravidian parties — DMK and AIADMK — the TVK, formed just over two years ago, won 108 seats, short of a majority in the assembly, securing a 34.9% vote share.
Irrespective of whether he becomes the next chief minister or not, his leadership, catapulting his two-year-old party to emerge as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu on its maiden run, is definitely a case study for political scientists and a lesson for politicians.
Vijay did not arrive in politics overnight. For years, there was speculation about his next move, with his growing public interventions and strong fan base fuelling expectations. When he finally launched the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), it came with preparation on the ground. The party projected itself as an alternative to both the DMK and AIADMK, focusing on governance, accountability and a break from entrenched political rivalries.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest mass stars, had been attracting crowds to his meetings for over a year. By the time he emerged as a politician, people knew him and had seen his work in the realms of health, social work, education and philanthropy. Focusing on youth employment and women’s empowerment, Vijay interacted with Gen Z, trainees and women, promising women’s safety, a Rs 2,500 monthly dole for women, six LPG cylinders a year, self-help group loans, etc. Nepal saw a youthquake some months ago, but it was not expected in Tamil Nadu.
His campaign found traction among younger voters and in urban pockets, where there has been visible fatigue with traditional party structures. For years, Tamil Nadu saw power alternate between the DMK under Karunanidhi and the AIADMK under Jayalalithaa. Even after the passing of the veteran regional titans, the political structure they shaped continued to hold, with alliances shifting but the core contest remaining largely between the two formations.
It is this structure that Vijay appears to have disrupted. There is also a generational element to this change. A section of voters, especially the young, seem less tied to the traditional DMK-AIADMK divide.
Born Joseph Vijay Chandrashekhar in Chennai in 1974, he is the son of veteran director S A Chandrasekhar, a Christian, and Shoba, a playback singer and a Hindu. His multi-faith family background served as a strategic advantage, reinforcing his image as a “secular alternative”. Vijay’s rise, in that sense, sits at the intersection of continuity and change. Like MGR and Jayalalithaa, he has used his film career as a springboard into politics. But his success also reflects a moment when voters appear open to alternatives. Whether this becomes a lasting shift will depend on what follows.
TVK’s success story has some similarities with, and also lessons for, Goa’s political landscape. It reminds us of Goa’s regional parties — GFP and, more so, RGP — which also root for Goemkarponn, just as TVK did for its Dravidian culture. In Goa, most parties have young leaders, and it depends on the extent to which they can attract Gen Z and other youngsters, besides women. There is also much to learn from Vijay’s leadership. He came with innovation and without any baggage. An early starter in social work, he offered a new brand of politics, importantly encompassing respect for all religions. Votes for him also showed that his supporters wanted peace and the hope of employment, not false promises and communal division. Goa has a similar history of communal harmony, though intolerance is slowly increasing. Is TVK›s success a wake-up call for political parties?
