Sabarinathan.P

Sabarinathan (also referred to as R. Sabarinathan) is a first-time political candidate contesting the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from the Virugambakkam constituency in Chennai. According to media reports, he is a 30-year-old engineer who worked in Qatar and returned to Chennai in 2024. He is the son of Rajendran, who served as actor-turned-politician Vijay's long-time driver and later became his personal assistant. Sabarinathan grew up in the Virugambakkam area and was personally convinced by Vijay to enter politics and contest under the TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) banner, though he is officially registered as an Independent candidate. His political debut gained significant public attention in late March 2026 when his candidacy was announced. A video of the announcement went viral, showing Sabarinathan touching Vijay's feet and embracing him emotionally, while Vijay was seen wiping away tears. This emotional moment resonated with voters and created substantial media buzz around his campaign. He has stated his commitment to addressing local issues in Virugambakkam, particularly last-mile connectivity problems affecting residents. Sabarinathan faces a challenging electoral battle in Virugambakkam, a prestigious urban constituency that was won by DMK's A.M.V. Prabhakara Raja in 2021 with 74,351 votes (44.38%). The 2026 contest includes candidates from DMK (incumbent), AIADMK+, NTK, and TVK. As a complete newcomer with no prior political experience or governance track record, his campaign relies heavily on Vijay's star power and the emotional narrative of loyalty and opportunity. There are no reported legal cases, controversies, or corruption allegations against him as of April 2026. Voters should note significant discrepancies between his official Election Commission affidavit (which lists him as 40 years old, 8th Pass, Auto Driver with assets of Rs. 3.13 lakhs) and media reports (which describe him as 30 years old, engineer, former Qatar worker). This raises questions about either data accuracy or potential confusion with another person of the same name. His candidacy represents a test of whether Vijay's personal popularity and emotional appeal can translate into electoral success for a candidate with no independent political standing or administrative experience.