Actor-turned-politician Vijay announces his debut electoral contest from two seats, framing the 2026 Tamil Nadu polls as a direct fight with the DMK while unveiling a youth-centric manifesto.
Vijay confirmed he will contest from two constituencies
Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Sunday confirmed that he will contest from Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, marking his first direct electoral entry.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief announced his decision while addressing party functionaries, stating that he would contest under his full name, “C. Joseph Vijay,” from both constituencies. His move signals an aggressive entry into state politics ahead of the April 23 polls.
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Alongside his own candidacy, Vijay released a list of party nominees for several key constituencies. Senior leaders such as N. Anand, Adhav Arjuna, R. Arunraaj, C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar, and K.A. Sengkottaiyan have been fielded from prominent seats including T Nagar, Villivakkam, Gobichettipalayam, and Thirupparankundram.
Positioning the election as a direct political showdown, Vijay described the contest as a battle between his “people’s alliance” and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.
He criticised the ruling coalition, calling it a “patch-up alliance,” and urged his party members to work towards ending what he termed as “autocratic governance.” Vijay also made candidates take a pledge against corruption, emphasising accountability and public service.
Unveiling key aspects of his party’s agenda, Vijay highlighted a series of youth-focused promises. These include efforts to create a drug-free Tamil Nadu, collateral-free education loans of up to ₹20 lakh from Class 12 to PhD level, and transparent government recruitment processes.
Additional proposals include unemployment assistance, internship opportunities, and support for entrepreneurship, aimed at addressing youth concerns and boosting job creation.
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Polling for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The current Assembly’s tenure concludes on May 10.
The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the opposition National Democratic Alliance, led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) along with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other allies. Vijay’s TVK is seeking to emerge as a significant third force in the state’s political landscape.
