Joseph Vijay's Party Leads in Tamil Nadu Election, Surpassing Ruling DMK

Tamil Nadu. South Indian cinema superstar Joseph Vijay has surprised everyone in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. 

Vijay, whom his fans know by the name 'Thalapathi', his party TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) has left Chief Minister MK Stalin's party DMK behind in the trends. DataNet states that TVK is leading in 105 seats, while the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has taken a lead in 51 seats. The opposition party AIADMK is also ahead of DMK at the moment. AIADMK is leading in 78 seats.

Vijay himself is ahead by about three thousand votes from his nearest rival RD Shekhar in the Perambur seat. Actor Vijay is very popular not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Hindi-speaking regions. Exit polls had expected his good performance, but the trend of results is surprising.

After achieving success in films, he became active in politics. Last year in September, 39 people died in a stampede during a rally of his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Karur, Tamil Nadu, after which his name came into discussion once again. 

Vijay expressed deep sorrow and shock over the incident on social media. He also announced financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to each of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to each of the injured.

Vijay's life is no less than a film script. Birth in a film environment, starting acting from childhood, achieving stardom after struggle, disagreement with his father, and then entering politics.

• Started as a Child Actor and Family Background

Vijay's full name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar. He was born on June 22, 1974, in Chennai. His father SA Chandrasekhar was a famous director in Tamil cinema, and his mother Shobha was a singer.

Raised in a film environment, Vijay started acting at a very young age. His father gave him the opportunity to work as a child artist in the film 'Vetri'. 

From a young age, Vijay had decided that his future lay in cinema. He started studying Visual Media in college but dropped out midway due to his passion for acting.

Later, his mother Shobha wrote a script, and his father SA Chandrasekhar made a film based on it. It was with this film 'Nalaiya Theerpu' (1992) that Vijay debuted as a hero. Although this film did not achieve the expected success at the box office, it laid the foundation for Vijay's career.

• From Initial Recognition to 'Thalapathi'

Vijay's early career was associated with 'formula films' which were a mix of action and romantic songs. But over time, this image of his changed. 

He carved a niche for himself in films based on comedy, action, and social themes, and gradually transformed from an ordinary hero to 'Thalapathi' (Commander).

Superhit films like 'Ghilli' gave him the image of a 'mass hero' and made him a fan even among small children. Similarly, 'Kaththi' connected his acting with social and political messages, while films like 'Theri', 'Mersal', and 'Bigil' set new box office records. Besides acting, Vijay is also considered an excellent dancer.

• Personal Life

Sangeetha, who grew up in London, became a fan of Vijay's films, marking a significant turning point in Vijay's personal life. Friendship gradually grew between the two, and the relationship progressed. On August 25, 1999, with the consent of the family, Vijay married Sangeetha.

After marriage, Sangeetha became his personal costume designer, and it is said that even today, Vijay wears clothes chosen by his wife.

• Entry into Politics

In February 2024, Vijay formally stepped into politics and announced his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). He clarified that he would not contest the parliamentary elections (2024 Lok Sabha) and would not support any candidate.

He stated that his focus would be on the 2026 assembly elections. With this announcement, he also said that he was leaving cinema.

The first rally of TVK was held on October 27, 2024, in Vikravandi, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, where a large crowd gathered. From the stage, Vijay strongly criticized parties that engage in divisive politics, stating that such forces are ideologically opposed to his party. He also accused them of fraud in the name of the Dravidian model and alleged that 'a single family is looting the state'.

Before entering politics, disputes had also begun within Vijay's family. His father SA Chandrasekhar had already registered a party named 'All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam'.

This led to a public disagreement between Vijay and his father. Vijay filed a complaint against his parents and 11 others, demanding that his name not be used for any electoral activities or crowd mobilization.

According to 'The Indian Express', Chandrasekhar had previously attempted to register Vijay's fan club as a political party called 'All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam'. Following this dispute, Vijay issued a statement saying, 'I want to make it clear to my fans and the public that there is no direct or indirect connection between my father's political party and me.'

• Announcement to Quit Cinema

Addressing the public gathering, Vijay said that he had left behind both his acting career and earnings to enter politics. He had previously clarified that after becoming active in politics, he would quit acting and dedicate himself fully to social service. In September 2024, production house KVN officially announced that the film 'Thalapathy 69' would be Vijay's last film.

• What was said about the Party's Ideology?

In his first rally, Vijay spoke in detail about TVK's ideology. He said, 'We do not separate Dravidian nationalism and Tamil nationalism. Both are the two eyes of this soil. We should not limit ourselves to any particular identity.'

Vijay stated that his party would be based on the principles of secularism and social justice. He said that TVK would follow the path shown by Periyar, incorporating women's empowerment and social justice. However, he made it clear that he would not accept Periyar's views on atheism.

Furthermore, Vijay clarified that TVK would support a two-language policy in the state. He stated that government functions should be conducted in both Tamil and English. According to Vijay, his party also supports caste-based census.