A ‘fun’ superstar stuns rivals and reshapes politics in an…
On Monday, his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) defied all naysayers to almost sweep the state election, marking a break in the established political order. Vijay's spectacular rise is being compared with that of matinee idol MG Ramachandran, who broke away from the established Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to form his own party and become chief minister in 1977.
Even then, his performance marks a striking political moment in a state that has, for decades, chosen between two established regional parties – the DMK and its rival the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). "He offers a sense of fun, confidence and an aura of competence rooted in individuality and that gives him a different kind of power." In the weeks since voting took place, Vijay has been carefully crafting his public image – not on screen, but by visiting prominent temples and churches.
That, they argue, is opening space for new political experiments – and for figures like Vijay to test how far star power can translate into durable political authority. Over the next decade, Vijay's film events took on an increasingly political tone as he spoke to younger audiences about exam stress, unemployment and corruption, and later criticised the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019.
Vijay offers a new imagination ." In Tamil Nadu, Dravidian politics – led by the DMK and AIADMK – which is rooted in social justice and welfare, has dominated for decades. Vijay has cast India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as his ideological adversary, and the incumbent DMK as his immediate political rival – a positioning that reflects Tamil Nadu's long resistance to the BJP's expansion, rooted in language politics and a strong regional identity, as well as a promise of freshness.
Analysis: Why This Matters
Watching how Tamil Nadu evolves is important: international stories tend to set the tone for the news cycle ahead.
Key Takeaways
- The shift towards Vijay is most pronounced among younger voters and women, according to pollster Pradeep Gupta of Axis My India.
- Vijay offers a new imagination ." In Tamil Nadu, Dravidian politics – led by the DMK and AIADMK – which is rooted in social justice and welfare, has dominated for decades.
- Film star-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay is on the cusp of history in Tamil Nadu state.
We'll follow up as official statements and on-the-ground reporting emerge.
Source: BBC World