Vijay.S

Vijay.S, known professionally as Thalapathy Vijay, is a 40-year-old political newcomer contesting from Vridhachalam for the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Born Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar on June 22, 1974 in Chennai, he built a three-decade career as a leading Tamil cinema actor starting as a child actor in 1984's 'Vetri', achieving massive popularity across Tamil Nadu. On February 2, 2024, he formally entered politics by founding TVK, positioning it as a center-left party advocating social justice, secularism, and egalitarianism with the slogan 'Pirappokkum Ella Uyirkkum' (All are equal by birth), drawing inspiration from Periyar and Ambedkar while rejecting both Dravidian dynastic politics and BJP's right-wing ideology. As TVK President, Vijay released an ambitious manifesto promising monthly financial assistance of ₹2,500 for homemakers, ₹4,000 unemployment aid for graduates, free house pattas, AI-driven governance, NEET abolition, and a target to make Tamil Nadu a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036. His party has fielded candidates across all 234 assembly seats, with Vijay himself contesting from two constituencies - Perambur (Chennai) and Tiruchirappalli East - marking his electoral debut on March 29, 2026. Prior political involvement included his fan clubs winning 115 out of 169 seats in 2021 local body elections, and activism against CAA (2019) and NEET. However, Vijay's political journey faces serious challenges. On September 27, 2025, a tragic crowd crush at TVK's Karur rally killed 41 people and injured around 100, with FIRs filed against party organizers for culpable homicide and endangering lives, though Vijay himself was not named. He has also faced scrutiny for discrepancies in election affidavits - initially claiming no criminal cases but later declaring two pending FIRs related to public disturbance during campaigning and a party conference incident. His affidavit for Vridhachalam lists one criminal case involving wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, and disobedience to public servant orders. Additionally, his declared profession as 'Vijay Traders' contrasts sharply with his well-documented career as a film actor, raising questions about income source transparency. Voters in Vridhachalam should weigh Vijay's appeal as a fresh face against traditional politics and his welfare-focused promises against concerns about his lack of administrative experience, the shadow of the Karur tragedy, affidavit discrepancies, and whether celebrity popularity can translate into effective governance. With declared assets of ₹81.8 lakhs and liabilities of ₹19 lakhs, he presents himself as a relatively modest candidate compared to entrenched political figures, though critics question the sustainability of his movement beyond initial enthusiasm.