The political landscape in Tamil Nadu is now witnessing a major shift as actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, known as Thalapathy, and his newly formed party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to form the state government.
The state’s politics has long been dominated by DMK and AIADMK since 1967.
Tamil voters cast their votes in favour of Vijay not only for his screen charisma but also for his promise to change the political landscape.
Sai Lakshmi, a resident of Chennai, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Voter dissatisfaction with both DMK and AIADMK, is growing because of corruption, governance issues, and institutional misuse.”
Another Chennai resident, Rudhra, said Vijay’s appeal is built on promises of transparency, clean governance, and digital tracking of public funds.
“Vijay and his party’s public rallies and messaging have attracted significant support from younger voters who want a political change,” he added.
Thomas SK. who is voting for the first time in the election, “I voted for TVK because it felt like a break from the usual DMK-AIADMK cycle. Vijay spoke about corruption and governance in a way that connected with us. He asked for a chance, and giving someone a chance is the least we can do”
Sowmya K, an IT professional said, “After Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, politics has changed. Instead of voting out of party loyalty, it makes sense to consider new options.”
“Many people feel the Dravidian parties have not delivered the kind of governance they expected, and there is growing frustration over issues like corruption, law and order, and rising debt. That is why some of us are looking at alternatives like TVK,” she told TIMES.
Although Vijay’s victory was not projected in the polls.
A Tamil Nadu journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that exit polls and media projections were perceived as biased toward established parties, alleging that financial influence helped shape public perception during the election period.
However, some voters expressed concerns about his capability, noting that he is a completely new entrant to politics, having entered the field only in 2024.
Mahesh a resident in Vellachery said, “He is still a new person in politics. Let him first become an MLA and understand how governance works. Directly ruling as Chief Minister without that experience doesn’t feel right”
Vithika, a final year LLB student said, “I respect Vijay as an actor, but politics needs experience and stability.”
“TVK is still new and untested. At this stage, I felt it was safer to go with a party that has governed before,” she told TIMES.
