Aadhav Arjuna

Aadhav Arjuna, 43, is a political strategist and sports administrator who has become the General Secretary of Election Campaign Management for actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making him effectively the party's number two. Born and raised in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, he graduated from Madras Christian College and has had a career spanning political strategy, philanthropy, and sports administration. He serves as President of the Basketball Federation of India, a position he assumed in 2023. His marriage to the daughter of Santiago Martin, popularly known as the 'Lottery King,' places him within one of South India's wealthiest business families, which helps explain his declared assets exceeding ₹534 crore. Arjuna's political career has been marked by mobility across parties. He was previously associated with the DMK before joining the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) as Deputy General Secretary. On January 31, 2025, he resigned from VCK and joined TVK, where actor Vijay immediately appointed him to lead election campaign management. This pattern of party switches has drawn criticism from political observers who question his ideological consistency. He is now contesting from the Villivakkam constituency in Chennai, a traditional DMK stronghold, positioning himself as a change agent against established Dravidian parties. Controversy has shadowed Arjuna's recent political activities. His affidavit declares one criminal case with serious charges including attempt to commit culpable homicide (§110), causing grievous hurt (§125(b)), and culpable homicide not amounting to murder (§105). Following the tragic Karur stampede at a TVK rally that killed 41 people, Arjuna sparked outrage by posting on social media calling for a 'Gen-Z revolution' similar to movements in Sri Lanka and Nepal. This led to police cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity and public mischief, with the Madras High Court specifically questioning whether he considers himself 'above the law.' His nomination papers were also temporarily held due to objections about undisclosed financial details and company affiliations linked to his wife, though they were eventually accepted. Voters in Villivakkam face a complex choice. Arjuna brings organizational skills, political strategy experience, and the momentum of Vijay's celebrity appeal. He claims strong public response during door-to-door campaigns, attributing it to anti-incumbency against Dravidian parties. However, questions persist about transparency regarding his massive wealth, his criminal cases including the new post-stampede charges, his rapid party-hopping, and whether his family's lottery business interests might influence his political decisions. His Delhi visit also sparked speculation about potential BJP ties despite TVK's stated Congress affinity, adding uncertainty about the party's future alliances.