On April 23, 2026, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay exercised his franchise at the Neelankarai polling booth as part of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This significant event marked Vijay’s active involvement in the electoral process as he seeks to secure a seat for his party in the state legislature.

Vijay is contesting from two constituencies: Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East. His candidacy is notable owing to his high profile as an actor-turned-politician. The stakes are high, especially in Perambur, where he faces off against the DMK’s RD Shekar, a formidable opponent who won the previous election by a robust margin of 54,976 votes against AIADMK’s NR Dhanapalan.

In Tiruchirappalli East, Vijay is up against sitting DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj S, who secured victory with a significant margin of 53,797 votes during the 2021 elections. With his considerable fan following, Vijay anticipates that his popularity will help him counter traditional political figures.

Polling Process and Security Measures

The polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections commenced on the morning of April 23 amid stringent security protocols. Authorities have cautioned voters about the importance of maintaining decorum at polling stations as they exercise their right to vote. Voting is scheduled to conclude at 6:00 pm on the same day.

In addition to Vijay’s presence, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called upon the electorate to turn out in large numbers. He highlighted the significance of safeguarding democratic rights and the principles of federalism, justice, and equality. Kharge emphasised the role of young voters in shaping the future of Tamil Nadu, encouraging them to make their voices heard during this pivotal election.

Congress is contesting on 28 seats as part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, which is led by the DMK. Kharge’s outreach aims at galvanising support among the populace to ensure a robust voter turnout.

Voter Demographics and Electoral Dynamics

The Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer, Archana Patnaik, has announced that the state’s electorate includes over 5.73 crore registered voters. This figure comprises 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 voters from the third gender. The electoral landscape also incorporates 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, reflecting a diverse demographic engaging in the electoral process.

Additionally, a total of 4,18,541 postal votes have been received, augmenting the traditional voting method. To facilitate an efficient counting process, 62 counting centres have been established and are set to be operational once voting concludes.

The electoral battle is generally projected to be between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which comprises Congress, DMDK, and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance spearheaded by AIADMK with the support of BJP and PMK. The DMK is banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, while the AIADMK-led coalition is intent on reclaiming its former dominance.

Vijay’s emergence as a candidate with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) adds a fresh dynamic to the elections, potentially transforming the contest into a three-way competition among the major political factions. The election results will be closely monitored as they will shape the future political landscape of Tamil Nadu.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share