Vijay Trails in Perambur as Tamil Nadu Counts Votes in His First Electoral Test

Key facts

• Vijay is contesting from Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
• Perambur has 2,22,792 voters and recorded nearly 90% turnout on April 23.
• Vijay needs a double-digit vote share shift to win Perambur.
• Thanthi TV poll predicts 84 seats for DMK, 72 for AIADMK, 1 for TVK, and 77 tight contests.
• India Today-Axis My India projects TVK winning 98-120 seats, DMK 92-110.
• Vijay declared assets worth over ₹624 crore, making him the wealthiest candidate.
• DMK incumbent RD Sekar won Perambur in 2021 with a comfortable margin.
• Vijay has promised ₹4,000 monthly for graduates, ₹2,500 for women, and wedding gifts if elected.

Early Counting Shows Vijay Trailing in Perambur

C Joseph Vijay, the actor-turned-politician known as Thalapathy, is trailing in the Perambur constituency as vote counting begins in Tamil Nadu. The seat, which drew nearly 90% turnout on April 23, has become the sharpest measure of his political debut. Vijay needs a double-digit vote share shift to convert interest into a win, but early tallies show him fighting from behind.

A Dual-Constituency Strategy Mirrors Jayalalithaa’s 1991 Move

Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is contesting from two seats: Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East. This mirrors the strategy of legendary leader Jayalalithaa in 1991, though DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin mocked the actor for having “one leg in each seat”. In Perambur, Vijay faces DMK incumbent RD Sekar; in Trichy East, he is pitted against DMK's Inigo Irudayaraj and AIADMK's K Rajasekaran.

High Turnout and Vote Transfers Define Perambur’s Challenge

Perambur, the largest constituency in Chennai with 2,22,792 voters, has a long-standing working-class base that traditionally favors major Dravidian parties. The nearly 90% turnout leaves less room for a late surge from a newcomer. Vijay’s entry may split anti-DMK votes, but the seat’s history shows it does not reward name recognition alone; it rewards vote transfers.

Poll Projections Show TVK as a Serious Contender

Thanthi TV’s opinion poll predicts 84 of 234 constituencies will favor the DMK, 72 will go to the AIADMK, and one favors TVK, with 77 seats in the tight-contest column. India Today-Axis My India projects TVK winning 98-120 seats, while the DMK is forecast at 92-110 seats. These ranges keep TVK in the conversation as a serious challenger, even as Perambur’s live count shows Vijay fighting from behind.

Vijay’s Wealth and Promises Underline His Campaign

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. He has promised ₹4,000 monthly assistance for graduates, ₹2,500 monthly aid for women, a sovereign gold and silk saree as wedding gifts for young women, and timely government examinations. His campaign positions him as a “family member” offering a “whistle revolution” to oust the ruling DMK, which he has labelled an “evil force”.

Background: From Film Star to Political Newcomer

Born in 1974, Joseph Vijay is the son of director SA Chandrasekhar. He transitioned from a high-profile acting career, where he was known as “Thalapathy” (commander), to politics. Despite facing a CBI investigation into the 2025 Karur stampede and delays in his final film Jananayakan, Vijay has maintained a “no alliance” stance, calling the BJP an “ideological enemy” and the DMK a “political enemy”. His personal life has also been in the spotlight following a divorce petition filed by his wife Sangeetha.

What Perambur’s Result Means for Tamil Nadu’s Political Landscape

Perambur is not just measuring one candidate’s debut; it is showing whether TVK can move enough votes in a DMK-leaning contest to matter beyond the headline race. Vaiko called Vijay a “Force to reckon with”, and that line fits the broader read on TVK: a force with enough reach to reshape margins, but not yet enough proof in this seat to flip the result. The answer is arriving in the tally now, as the state watches whether Vijay’s entry can dent entrenched Dravidian strength.

The bottom line

• Vijay trails in Perambur with early counting showing him needing a double-digit vote share shift to win.
• Perambur’s nearly 90% turnout limits the potential for a late surge from a newcomer.
• Poll projections suggest TVK could win 98-120 seats, making it a serious challenger to DMK and AIADMK.
• Vijay’s dual-constituency strategy echoes Jayalalithaa’s 1991 approach but faces criticism from rivals.
• Vijay is the wealthiest candidate with assets over ₹624 crore and has made extensive campaign promises.
• The outcome in Perambur will be a key indicator of TVK’s ability to shift votes in Dravidian strongholds.