Vijay cannot bank on star power alone

Last week, a sea of humanity gathered at Madurai, Tamil Nadu, to listen to Joseph Vijay, founder of the political party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), who said that his party would script a new chapter in the State’s political history in the 2026 Assembly elections. This was not surprising — Mr. Vijay is  one of the highest paid and most popular actors in the Tamil film industry. But as the past has shown, star power and large crowds alone do not guarantee political success.

When Mr. Vijay launched the TVK last year, no one was surprised, as the film industry is often seen as a springboard for politics in Tamil Nadu. The founder of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), C.N. Annadurai; his disciple and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi; former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (popularly known as MGR); former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa; and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam chief Vijayakanth all had some connection to the industry. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin acted in the serial Kurinji Malar and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has also acted in films and produced them.

In Mr. Vijay’s case, it was his father, director S.A. Chandrasekar, who had political ambitions for him. Mr. Vijay had reservations about entering politics and this strained his relationship with his father. What emboldened him to finally test the waters was actor Rajinikanth’s decision to stay away from politics due to health reasons after announcing his plans to launch a political party. Mr. Vijay launched the TVK, hoping to occupy the space created by the absence of charismatic leaders such as Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa.

However, what Mr. Vijay has not realised is that both MGR and Jayalalithaa did not just rely on their popularity in films; they simultaneously built their political careers. MGR was a member of the DMK from 1952 to 1972 and rose through the ranks. He played a major role in the party’s victory in the 1969 elections. He meticulously cultivated his image. His film songs and dialogues, loaded with political messages, prepared the ground for the launch of the AIADMK after his expulsion from the DMK.

A strong organisation is also essential for success in politics and matters more than image. When MGR formed the AIADMK, a substantial part of the DMK, which had strong organisational strength and experienced leaders, went with him. Even in the case of Jayalalithaa, who was a popular actor and a protégé of MGR, it was the AIADMK’s strong organisational base that helped her sustain herself in politics. Elections have proved that she, unlike MGR, was not invincible in politics. Conversely, it was lack of organisational strength that reduced actor Kamal Haasan’s political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, into an appendage of the DMK.

Some may argue that Mr. Vijay belongs to a different era, and all the factors that dominated Tamil Nadu in the past need not become decisive now. But Mr. Vijay also lives in an ivory tower. He projects himself as a saviour of the people of Tamil Nadu and his party as an alternative to other political parties, but refuses to meet the media and refrains from reacting to vital issues. When a protest against the Greater Chennai Corporation’s decision to outsource waste management led to the detention of over 800 workers at midnight earlier this month, all the leaders in the State visited the workers. However, Mr. Vijay invited them to his house. Perhaps he thought that his visit would cause a stampede given his massive popularity, but the decision did him no favours.

There are a few factors that may benefit him. There is a clear lack of cohesiveness in the AIADMK, and the DMK faces anti-incumbency. Mr. Vijay has also said that he would be open to forming an alliance and sharing power with other parties. However, he cannot merely hope to take advantage of the anti-incumbency factor; he will need to split the DMK votes and receive substantial votes from the AIADMK to make a mark in 2026. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has converted the alliance into what looks like a family and no party has shown any indication of leaving the DMK-led alliance. The DMK also believes that if the anti-incumbency factor works in favour of Mr. Vijay instead of the AIADMK-BJP combine, it can romp home to victory. Given these reasons, for Mr. Vijay, who has not made clear his ideology or electoral strategy even a year since his party’s launch, the road to scripting history promises to be challenging.