Tamil Nadu has seen bipolar contests during its Lok Sabha and Assembly elections ever since the DMK and the AIADMK formed the two poles of the Dravidian politics in the state since the 1970s. While the Congress and the BJP have allied with the regional satraps, they did not have an independent voice in Tamil Nadu. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is seeking to change this bipartisan accommodation into a tight three-way tussle.
TVK mainly eyes votes of the youth and first-time voters, but Vijay's vote bank is not limited to those drawn from his fandom. The party has floated the idea of a "generational election", wooing young voters with jobs, internships and loans.
It should be noted that around 12.5 lakh of the electorate in Tamil Nadu is first-time voters this time while another 2.5 crore voters are aged under 40. Polls surveys have indicated that he could amass around 15 to 20 per cent vote share. This would mean that DMK-led SPA or AIADMK-led NDA might need support of TVK if they fall short of majority.
However, Vijay previously told NDTV that he is not interested in becoming a kingmaker and want to win the elections. "I will win. Why would I be a kingmaker? Have you seen the crowds that are coming?" he told the TV channel.
Besides the vote of youth, Vijay is also eyeing the women electorate, which forms 51 per cent of the total voters. Like the two other major alliances, TVK too has offered freebies for women. These include Rs 2,500 monthly transfer to women under 60, six free gas cylinders per family annually, 8 gm gold and silk saree for women during marriage and so on. The freebies were is stark contrast to what TVK leaders appealed to women previously. C.G. Arunraj earlier asked women to let go off the Rs 1,000 monthly assistance given by the DMK government.
Vijay and his party earlier tried to woo the Congress to back him amid the grand old party's disagreement with the DMK over finalising seat allocation. However, the Congress has decided to stick with its time-tested ally DMK. Recently, Vijay kicked up storm, claiming that the "real Congress" was aligned with the TVK even if the ruling DMK had "purchased" the state unit of the Congress with "crores of rupees". The Congress clapped back at the allegations as "baseless, false, and politically motivated".
Earlier, TVK leader K.A. Sengottaiuan asserted that TVK will ally with only those who would back Vijay as chief ministerial candidate. But that was before the candidates and seats were decided. As the voters in the state decide the fate of the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, it remains to be seen whether TVK and Vijay will play kingmaker or even assume the chair of chief minister. The high-stakes elections for the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23 and the results will be announced on May 4.