Four months after its launch, Actor Vijay’s Thamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) announced that its goal was only to win the 2026 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and that it would not contest any elections, including the local body polls, till then.
In a statement, TVK general secretary N. Bussy Anand said Vijay, while announcing the launch of the party on February 2, had clearly articulated the party’s political standing.
“Our party chief has already announced that winning the 2026 assembly elections is our primary goal. He will announce the party’s ideology and programmes to be implemented during the first conference of the party to be held soon. He will also tour the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu after the conference. TVK will not contest in any election, including the local body elections, before 2026,” Anand said in the statement.
The statement comes at a time when questions are being raised, especially on social media, about Vijay’s political stance and ideologies and whether the TVK will contest the Vikkravandi bypolls scheduled for July 10.
As per the buzz within the TVK circles, the 49-year old actor, who commands a huge fan base, will soon organise a state level conference similar to those of the Dravidian majors. Sources close to Vijay say that he will soon tour the state, launch the party formally, articulate the party’s ideologies, introduce party functionaries from state to district levels and reveal his political plans for the next two years.
During the second week of May this year, the TVK inched a step closer to formal registration process by publishing public notices in Tamil and English newspapers. As per the Election Commission’s guidelines, through the notices the TVK invited people to express objections if any regarding the party’s registration. Sources say that over 80 lakh individuals have voluntarily signed up as members through the app launched by the actor. The membership goal, according to party insiders, is two-crore before the formal launch.
Apart from Vijay and Bussy Anand, as the president and general secretary respectively, the party had also appointed other high level functionaries like treasurer, headquarters secretary and propaganda secretary. Vijay’s long time aide and personal assistant Venkatraman is the treasurer, while Cuddalore North district president Raja Sekar was given the headquarters secretary post. Thahira of Vellore district was appointed as the propaganda secretary in May this year.
In the Dravidian landscape where cinema and politics are considered bedfellows, Vijay’s TVK will be yet another addition. Vijay will join the long list of actors from Kollywood to take the active political plunge. But it remains to be seen if he can make an MGR in the Tamil political landscape or end up as yet another Vijayakanth by pitching himself as an alternate to the Dravidian majors.
