Vijayalaiyan. J

J. Vijayalaiyan is a 38-year-old first-time candidate contesting from the Poompuhar constituency in Mayiladuthurai district on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket. An 8th pass with self-employed status, he declares assets worth Rs. 50.24 lakhs with liabilities of Rs. 21.11 lakhs, and has no criminal cases against him. Vijayalaiyan is part of TVK's debut electoral effort in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, representing a party founded by actor Vijay on February 2, 2024, which positions itself as a center-left alternative to the dominant DMK and AIADMK, drawing from the ideologies of Ambedkar, Periyar, and Kamaraj. The Poompuhar constituency has historically alternated between DMK and AIADMK, with DMK's Nivedha M. Murugan winning in 2021. Vijayalaiyan faces an uphill battle as a newcomer in a constituency with entrenched political loyalties. TVK has made ambitious promises in its April 2026 manifesto, including Rs 18,000 salaries for anganwadi staff, Rs 10,000 for sanitation workers, a drug-free Tamil Nadu initiative, and plans to transform the state into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036. The party has aggressively rejected alliances with BJP, DMK, and AIADMK, with Vijay declaring TVK will contest all seats independently. However, TVK's organizational capabilities came under severe scrutiny following the tragic September 27, 2025 crowd crush incident at a rally in Karur district that killed at least 41 people and injured around 100. While Vijay himself wasn't named in the FIR, three senior party organizers were charged with culpable homicide and endangering lives. The incident raised serious questions about the party's event management and safety protocols just months before the elections. Despite this setback, TVK continues its aggressive campaign, with Vijay announcing he will contest from Madurai East as the chief ministerial candidate. Voters in Poompuhar should know that Vijayalaiyan represents a completely new political experiment in Tamil Nadu—a party banking on celebrity appeal and anti-establishment sentiment but with no governance track record. While his clean affidavit with zero criminal cases is positive, he faces the challenge of proving TVK can translate mass rallies and social media buzz into effective governance, especially after the Karur tragedy. His modest educational background and assets suggest grassroots connectivity, but voters must weigh whether a first-time candidate from an untested party can deliver on ambitious promises in a constituency with established political networks.