CHENNAI – Actor-turned-politician Vijay has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, confirming he will contest from two constituencies: Perambur and Trichy East.
The announcement came as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), released its first list of candidates for the 234-seat assembly, which is scheduled to vote in a single phase on April 23, 2026.
Key Battlegrounds and Strategical Moves
Vijay’s choice of seats signals a direct challenge to the incumbent DMK, as both Perambur (currently held by RD Sekar) and Trichy East (held by Inigo S. Irudayaraj) are sitting DMK strongholds.
Other major candidate announcements include:
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Kolathur: TVK’s VS Babu will take on Chief Minister MK Stalin.
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Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni: Former Congress leader Selvam has been fielded against Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin.
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Villivakkam: TVK General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna will contest from this segment.
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Gobichettipalayam: The party has fielded Sengottaiyan.
“The Whistle Revolution”
Urging voters to usher in a “whistle revolution”—referring to the party’s poll symbol—Vijay framed the election as a two-cornered fight between his “people’s alliance” and the DMK-led bloc. He took sharp swings at the establishment, contrasting his “ordinary” candidates against political heavyweights with histories of corruption and illegal mining.
Major Campaign Promises:
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Drug-Free State: A primary focus on eradicating substance abuse in Tamil Nadu.
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Unemployment Support: Monthly financial assistance for youth who remain unemployed after the age of 29.
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Recruitment Reform: A new law to ensure strict accountability and transparency in government job hiring.
The 2026 election has evolved into a high-stakes four-cornered contest involving the DMK+, the AIADMK-BJP (NDA) alliance, TVK, and a fourth front led by the PMK-Sasikala combine.
