Commentator S. Gurumurthy said C. Joseph Vijay's TVK movement remains a crowd rather than a formal political party following the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections [1].

This assessment comes as Vijay was invited to form the state government, highlighting the friction between celebrity popularity and established political infrastructure in the south of the U.S.

Gurumurthy, the editor of Thuglak, said that the TVK lacks the necessary organizational structure to function as a traditional party [1]. He said, "TVK Is Still A Crowd, Not A Party," during an appearance on NDTV [1]. This lack of structure, he suggested, has left the movement vulnerable during the high-stakes process of government formation.

According to Gurumurthy, Vijay was poorly advised during his bid to form the government [3]. He said that the actor-turned-politician's coalition approach was misguided, which contributed to the political drama currently unfolding in the state [2].

Gurumurthy also analyzed the roles of other major players in the region. He said MK Stalin's DMK is not in a position to give up direct power and is seeking to have indirect power through AIADMK [2]. This dynamic suggests a complex power struggle where established parties may attempt to manage newer entrants like Vijay through strategic alliances, rather than direct competition.

The 2026 election cycle [1] has positioned Vijay as a central figure in the battle for control of the Tamil Nadu government. However, Gurumurthy maintains that the transition from a popular movement to a governing entity requires more than a following—it requires a disciplined party apparatus.

“TVK Is Still A Crowd, Not A Party”

The critique by S. Gurumurthy underscores a recurring challenge for celebrity candidates in India: the gap between mass appeal and institutional capacity. While Vijay possesses the 'crowd' necessary to disrupt the electorate, the absence of a formal party hierarchy makes him dependent on the advice and stability of established political entities, potentially limiting his actual leverage in coalition negotiations.