Vijay's TVK Surges to 113 Seats, Reshaping Tamil Nadu's Political Landscape

Key facts

• C. Joseph Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), won the Perambur constituency with a margin of 36,591 votes.
• TVK led the Tamil Nadu Assembly count with 113 seats, just 5 short of the 118-seat majority mark in the 234-member House.
• Vijay contested from two seats: Perambur (Chennai) and Tiruchirappalli (East), mirroring Jayalalithaa's 1991 dual-constituency strategy.
• Vijay declared assets worth over ₹624 crore in his election affidavit, including ₹404 crore in movable assets, making him the wealthiest candidate.
• The Perambur constituency has 2,22,792 voters, the largest in Chennai; Tiruchirappalli East has 2,17,397 voters.
• DMK followed with 51 seats, AIADMK with 47, while BJP and Congress each led in 3 seats as counting continued.
• Vijay's electoral debut came amid a CBI investigation into the 2025 Karur stampede and delays in his final film 'Jananayakan'.

A Landslide in Perambur: Vijay's Electoral Debut

C. Joseph Vijay, the actor-turned-politician known to millions as “Thalapathy,” won the Perambur Assembly constituency on Monday, defeating incumbent DMK MLA R.D. Shekar by a margin of 36,591 votes. The victory, confirmed at the Loyola College counting centre, marked the formal arrival of a new force in Tamil Nadu politics. Outside the counting centre, a sea of yellow and maroon flags surged as supporters celebrated. With this win, Vijay had traded the silver screen for the legislative assembly, dismantling decades of two-party dominance in a single stroke.

TVK's Stunning Statewide Performance

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Vijay, surged to a commanding lead in the Tamil Nadu Assembly count, holding 113 seats — with 10 declared wins and leads in 103 more. The party stood just five seats away from the 118-seat majority mark in the 234-member House. The DMK followed with 51 seats (6 wins and 45 leads), while the AIADMK led in 47 constituencies. The BJP and Congress each led in three seats as counting continued. TVK’s victories included key urban seats such as Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar, Anna Nagar, Mylapore, and Erode (East), as well as constituencies across the state.

The Dual-Constituency Gamble and Its Critics

Vijay contested from two seats — Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli (East) — a strategy reminiscent of AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa’s 1991 dual-constituency campaign. The move drew criticism from DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin, who mocked the actor for having “one leg in each seat.” Positioning himself as a “family member” in every Tamil household, Vijay ran a solo campaign promising a “whistle revolution” to oust the ruling DMK, which he labelled an “evil force.” He maintained a “no alliance” stance, calling the BJP an “ideological enemy” and the DMK a “political enemy.”

Wealth, Controversy, and Personal Turmoil

In his 2026 election affidavit, Vijay declared assets worth over ₹624 crore, including ₹404 crore in movable assets, making him the wealthiest candidate in the fray. His entry into politics came amid a CBI investigation into the 2025 Karur stampede and delays in the release of his final film, Jananayakan. Vijay’s personal life also drew public attention following a divorce petition filed by his wife, Sangeetha, with whom he has two children. Vijay claimed opponents waited until a month before the election to leak news of the divorce and spread rumours about those close to him.

The Constituencies: Demographics and Previous Trends

Perambur, the largest constituency in Chennai with 2,22,792 voters, and Tiruchirappalli East, with 2,17,397 voters, both have significant working-class and Christian populations — key to Vijay’s electoral prospects. In 2021, both seats were won by the DMK-led alliance: R.D. Shekar in Perambur and Inigo Irudayaraj in Tiruchirappalli East. This time, Vijay faced Shekar in Perambur and a multi-cornered contest with over 40 candidates. In Trichy East, his opponents included DMK’s Inigo Irudayaraj and AIADMK’s K. Rajasekaran.

Promises and the Road Ahead

Vijay’s campaign pledges included ₹4,000 monthly assistance for graduates, ₹2,500 monthly aid for women, a sovereign gold coin and silk saree as wedding gifts for young women, and a guarantee that all government examinations would be conducted without delays. With TVK just five seats short of a majority, the party is now in a position to form the government, either on its own or through post-poll alliances. The outcome signals a historic shift in Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics, breaking the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK.

A New Era in Tamil Nadu Politics

Vijay’s victory in Perambur and TVK’s strong statewide performance represent a watershed moment for the state, where two Dravidian parties have alternated power for over 50 years. The actor-politician’s ability to mobilise a massive following from his film career translated into a formidable political machine. As counting continues, the final seat tally will determine whether TVK can govern alone or must seek partners. Regardless, the 2026 election has already reshaped Tamil Nadu’s political map, with Vijay’s “whistle revolution” delivering a resounding verdict.

The bottom line

• TVK, led by actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay, won 113 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, just 5 short of a majority, breaking the DMK-AIADMK duopoly.
• Vijay won the Perambur constituency by a margin of 36,591 votes, defeating incumbent DMK MLA R.D. Shekar in his electoral debut.
• Vijay contested from two seats (Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East), a strategy last used by Jayalalithaa in 1991.
• Vijay declared assets of over ₹624 crore, making him the wealthiest candidate in the election.
• The election was held amid a CBI investigation into the 2025 Karur stampede and personal controversies, including a divorce petition filed by Vijay's wife.
• TVK's performance signals a fundamental shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, with the potential to end decades of two-party dominance.