Vijay to contest Tamil Nadu elections from Ramanathapuram

Chennai: Tamil superstar Vijay, who is also a politician, may run for office in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from Ramanathapuram district. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is beginning preparations early for the elections, including conducting surveys in various constituencies to gauge their chances. Sources within TVK suggest that Ramanathapuram is a good choice for Vijay. This district has a large population of fishermen, a group he has actively supported. Vijay has spoken out about issues facing Tamil Nadu fishermen, including the arrests of local fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. He criticized the state and central governments for not taking action on this matter during a rally in Nagapattinam. A senior leader from TVK mentioned that Vijay wants to focus on the challenges faced by poorer communities. The choice of Ramanathapuram aligns with his goal of championing their causes. Election strategist Prashant Kishor is advising Vijay on this campaign. Kishor recently attended the first anniversary celebration of TVK. Vijay officially launched TVK in February 2024 and took a strong stance against corruption and divisive politics. Although he did not run in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Vijay confirmed that TVK will participate in the upcoming Assembly elections. In previous events, Vijay has criticized both the ruling DMK and the BJP. He accused the DMK of exploiting the Dravidian identity and labeled the BJP as a divisive force. The DMK dismissed his remarks, suggesting that Vijay's party acts as a subordinate to the BJP. Despite the criticism, Vijay's political influence is growing. His fan club turned political organization won 115 out of 169 seats in the 2021 local body elections. The upcoming General Council meeting on March 28 is highly anticipated, as Vijay is expected to share the party's plans for the 2026 Assembly elections.