M.Vijay Balaji

M. Vijay Balaji, 39, is a graduate businessman contesting from Erode East constituency as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. He represents TVK, the newly formed political party founded by actor Vijay on February 2, 2024, which positions itself as a third alternative to the traditional Dravidian parties DMK and AIADMK. With declared assets of Rs. 3.45 crores and liabilities of Rs. 1.25 crores, Balaji faces one criminal case involving charges under sections 189(2) (being member of an unlawful assembly) and 126(2) (wrongfully restraining any person), though these are non-serious IPC charges. Erode East is a significant battleground, having witnessed a high-stakes by-election in 2023 where Congress won with 64.58% votes and a margin of 66,233 votes with 74.79% turnout. TVK notably boycotted that by-election citing concerns about the democratic process. For 2026, Balaji faces competition from established parties including INC's Gopinath Palaniyappan, AIADMK's R. Manoharan, and NTK's Thaandava Moorthy. TVK has announced it will contest all 234 seats independently without alliances, with party founder Vijay himself contesting from Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East. The party's trajectory has been marked by both enthusiasm and controversy. While TVK rallies have drawn massive crowds and the party's manifesto promises welfare schemes including financial aid for homemakers, unemployment support, and education incentives, the September 2025 Karur rally stampede that killed 41 people has raised serious questions about organizational capacity. Three senior TVK organizers were charged in the FIR, though Vijay was not personally named. The party's social media presence is strong, with millions of engagements on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Voters in Erode East should consider that Balaji is a first-time candidate representing a party less than two years old, with no proven governance record. While the party's anti-establishment messaging and welfare promises appeal to sections seeking alternatives to DMK-AIADMK politics, questions remain about TVK's ability to translate celebrity-driven mobilization into effective governance. The party's ideological positioning emphasizes secular social justice, opposition to both DMK and BJP, and economic reforms, but implementation capacity remains untested.