What Vijay got right in Tamil Nadu that Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan couldn't
Vijay's TVK has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu, defying doubts over another film star entering politics. The result has set him apart from Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. What worked for Vijay? What did he do differently?
by Abhishek De · India TodayIn Short
- Vijay's TVK refused DMK and AIADMK alliances
- Political clarity missing in approch of Rajinikanth, Haasan
- Vijay showed he was serious with his political plunge
When 'Thalapathy' Vijay threw his hat in the Tamil Nadu election ring, many saw it as an addition to the state's trend of film stars trying to capture the political space through their fandoms. The state, in fact, has a history of electing film stars as leaders. While legends like MGR and Jayalalithaa stamped their authority as chief ministers, others like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth failed to transform their fan following into a political base. However, Vijay got Tamil Nadu to whistle to his tune, with his TVK emerging as the single largest party.
So, what worked for Vijay? What did he do differently from Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, superstars who arguably have more fan following? There are several factors why Vijay's blockbuster performance stands as a massive outlier. It is why the Jana Nayagan star is on course to break a 49-year jinx - become Tamil Nadu's first actor-turned chief minister after MGR in 1977. Jayalalithaa also carved an identity of her own, but already had an existing party (AIADMK).
WHAT WORKED FOR VIJAY?
This makes Vijay's performance stand out. What worked for him is clear messaging. By asserting that he would quit acting and serve as a full-time politician, Vijay showed that he was serious, and his political plunge won't be reduced to a cameo. He put his entire three-decade-old career at stake, which saw 70 film releases.
This clarity was missing in Rajinikanth's approach. Rajinikanth took the political plunge after a decade of teasing his entry and fizzled out without even contesting an election. Crucially, Rajinikanth, whose cigarette flicks or tricks with the sunglass captivated the imagination of the audience, failed to convince the voters that he would remain relevant and strong for a long time.
Kamal Haasan went a step further. His Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly polls. However, the MNM failed to win a single seat. Its vote share was largely restricted to urban centres. By 2026, Haasan's MNM has faded, and the actor is now a Rajya Sabha MP with backing from the DMK.
Moreover, Vijay did not have that blockbuster entry as Rajinikanth or Haasan did. Even in Kollywood (Tamil film industry), he had a modest beginning. That ordinariness mattered. There was a connection with the people.
A SEPARATE TVK IDENTITY
Secondly, what proved to be a masterstroke was Vijay's bid to frame the TVK as different from the entrenched Dravidian parties. At the outset, the TVK categorically ruled out alliances with both the DMK and AIADMK.
It helped Vijay project himself as a clean alternative with a strong anti-corruption pitch. Not only did it give TVK ideological clarity, particularly among urban voters and young voters, but it also allowed Vijay to avoid being subsumed within legacy party structures.
Both Haasan and Rajinikanth, while trying to chart their own course, consciously avoided attacking the DMK or AIADMK. They didn't bring with them any USP that would woo the voters. The rallies of Haasan and Rajinikanth also attracted thousands, like the ones held by Vijay. But it didn't transform into votes.
Another differentiator is how Vijay tested the waters before launching his party in 2024. In the early 2020s, Vijay started to communicate his political views through public appearances during film releases. He always had the ear of the audience, his fans. In 2019, his criticism of the Citizenship Amendment Act was one of the first signals sent by 'politician' Vijay.
According to political expert TS Sudhir, Vijay's more than 85,000 fan clubs and network also played a crucial role. This network worked like a shadow political outfit for nearly 10 years, doing social work. In politics, visibility matters. The members of the 'Vijay Army' were seen on the streets and lanes across Tamil Nadu.
A GEN Z LEADER
Moreover, another factor that favoured Vijay over other superstars is the demographics of Tamil Nadu. Rajinikanth was over 70 years old when he announced his political debut. Haasan was over 65.
Vijay, at 51, is seen as a youth or 'Gen Z' leader. His appeal among the 2 crore-plus young voters, under the age of 40, proved crucial. As per data, nearly 41.5% of voters in Tamil Nadu fall in the 18-39 age group.
Moreover, with a sizeable percentage of his fans belonging to the 35-40 age group, they became active cadres on social media. This helped counter narratives online.
Thus, it is clearly evident that Vijay's political heist to emerge as the single largest party had careful planning. It was not just a fluke that propelled the TVK solely based on anger against the DMK. Yes, there was considerable fatigue with established parties. But Vijay's script was different from his predecessors, like Rajinikanth.
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