E. Vijay

E. Vijay appears to be actor Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar (Thalapathy Vijay), age 31 as per affidavit, who formally entered politics by founding Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on February 2, 2024. His political journey began with fan clubs organized under Vijay Makkal Iyakkam in 2009, which supported the AIADMK-led alliance in 2011. In 2021, members of his fan club contested local body elections, winning 115 out of 169 seats. He announced plans to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from constituencies including Sholinganallur, positioning his party as a secular social justice alternative to both BJP and DMK. Vijay's political career has seen dramatic highs and devastating lows. His October 2024 rally in Vikravandi drew over 800,000 people, demonstrating massive public appeal. However, tragedy struck in September 2025 when a crowd crush during his Karur rally killed 41 people and injured around 100. Tamil Nadu Police accused TVK leadership of ignoring safety advice and failing to take adequate precautions, leading to an FIR though Vijay was not directly named as accused. The Madras High Court is hearing a petition seeking CBI probe into the incident. His affidavit raises serious concerns: declaring profession as 'Labor' with total assets of just Rs. 3.41 lakhs appears inconsistent with his known status as a prominent film actor and political party founder who commands massive rallies. Additionally, while his current affidavit declares zero criminal cases, recent reports indicate he disclosed two pending FIRs in a fresh affidavit for Tamil Nadu assembly elections—one from Chennai related to public disturbance during campaigning, and another from Madurai concerning an incident at a party conference. He also faces ongoing legal challenges including tax penalty cases in Madras High Court. Voters should note the significant discrepancies between the affidavit data (profession: Labor, assets: Rs. 3.41 lakhs, zero criminal cases) and publicly available information about this candidate. His political ideology centers on Ambedkarite and Periyarite principles, demanding abolition of NEET and return of education to State List. Whether he can convert his celebrity appeal and massive crowds into electoral votes while managing organizational challenges and legal issues remains the critical question for 2026 elections.