Mohan Raja.M.G.K

K. Mohan Raja (M.G.K), 46, is contesting from the Cheyyur (SC) constituency in Tamil Nadu's 2026 assembly elections as a candidate for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). A contractor by profession, he enters politics at a significant moment—TVK was founded only in February 2024 by popular actor Vijay, making this Mohan Raja's electoral debut with a party barely two years old. His declared assets stand at Rs. 1.04 crore (Rs. 55.55 lakh movable, Rs. 48.87 lakh immovable) with liabilities of Rs. 56.87 lakh, and he has no criminal cases on record. Cheyyur is a reserved SC constituency that has been competitive in recent elections. VCK won in 2021 with 46.49% vote share, DMK won by just 304 votes in 2016, and AIADMK dominated in 2011. Mohan Raja faces established opponents including VCK's Sinthanai Selvan (the alliance partner holding the seat), AIADMK's E. Rajasekar, and NTK's Swathi Lakshmi. The constituency's history of close contests and shifting loyalties between Dravidian parties makes it a challenging debut ground. TVK's entry into Tamil Nadu politics has generated significant buzz, with opinion polls projecting 6-12 seats and 19-24% vote share for the party. The party appeals strongly to youth and first-time voters, leveraging Vijay's cinematic fame and anti-corruption messaging. However, the September 2025 Karur crowd crush tragedy that killed 41 people during a TVK rally has raised serious questions about organizational capacity and safety management. Critics also point to the party's lack of grassroots networks and unclear financial transparency, though supporters highlight the party's aggressive booth-level preparation with 69,400 agents deployed statewide. Voters in Cheyyur should know that Mohan Raja represents a completely new political experiment in Tamil Nadu. While he benefits from riding the wave of Vijay's popularity and anti-establishment sentiment, he lacks any proven track record in governance, constituency service, or legislative experience. His success will depend on whether TVK can convert celebrity-driven momentum into actual votes in a constituency where established parties have strong SC community networks and voter bases.