Supporters of actor-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar celebrated across Tamil Nadu on Friday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), approached a majority mark [1].
This development represents a historic debut for the party in the 2026 Assembly elections [2]. If TVK secures enough seats to form the state government, it would signal a major shift in the regional political landscape, challenging established powers in the state.
Celebrations erupted in Chennai and various other towns, characterized by fireworks and crowds shouting slogans [1]. Massive gatherings formed throughout the state as early results indicated that the TVK is leading in more than 100 seats [4].
Chandrasekhar, who is 51 years old [3], transitioned from a career in cinema to politics with the launch of TVK. The party has now emerged as a key contender in the election process [2].
While some reports indicate that TVK has already staked a claim to form the government [3], other data suggests the party is still nearing the majority mark [4]. This discrepancy follows a trend where most exit polls had previously predicted a second straight win for the DMK [5].
Supporters continue to gather in districts across Tamil Nadu to monitor the final tally. The scale of the celebrations reflects the high expectations surrounding the party's performance in its first electoral outing [1].
“TVK is leading in over 100 seats”
The potential rise of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam suggests a disruption of the traditional two-party dominance in Tamil Nadu. By leveraging the celebrity appeal of Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, the party has managed to defy exit polls that favored the incumbent DMK, potentially creating a new power center in South Indian politics.
