K.V. Vijay Damu

K.V. Vijay Damu, 46, is a first-time candidate from the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, contesting from the Royapuram constituency in Chennai for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. With an 8th standard education and running an auto consulting business, Damu represents TVK's attempt to field grassroots candidates in urban constituencies. He enters politics at a pivotal moment for his party, founded by actor Vijay on February 2, 2024, which aims to disrupt the traditional DMK-AIADMK dominance in Tamil Nadu politics. Royapuram is a densely populated urban constituency that has traditionally favored the DMK, with DMK candidates winning in both 2016 (S. Venkatesan) and 2021 (Idream R. Murthy). Damu faces an uphill battle against established parties, competing against AIADMK's D. Jayakumar and other candidates. His affidavit declares assets of Rs. 28.86 lakhs (entirely movable, no immovable property) and four criminal cases related to unlawful assembly and negligent conduct with fire. The charges include joining unlawful assemblies that were commanded to disperse and negligent conduct with combustible matter. Damu's candidacy occurs during a turbulent period for TVK, which has faced severe criticism following the tragic Karur crowd crush on September 27, 2025, where 41 people died during a party rally. The Madras High Court ordered a Special Investigation Team probe and criticized the party's event management. Additionally, multiple FIRs have been filed against TVK leaders for poll code violations, unauthorized roadshows, and exceeding permitted crowd limits. TVK has positioned itself as a secular, pro-people alternative, promising welfare schemes including a Rs 15,000 crore fund for MSMEs, AI-driven governance, and corruption-free welfare delivery. Voters in Royapuram should consider that while Damu benefits from the massive fan following of party founder actor Vijay and the promise of fresh political alternatives, he represents a completely new party with no governance track record. The party faces serious questions about organizational capacity and safety management following recent tragedies. As a first-time candidate with limited public profile, voters have little information about his specific plans for Royapuram's infrastructure, employment, and civic issues. This election will test whether celebrity appeal and anti-establishment sentiment can overcome the traditional advantages of established political parties.