At the end of eight hours of vote counting in Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is leading in 107 out 234 constituencies across the state. The DMK alliance is leading in 74 constituencies while the AIADMK is leading in 54 constituencies.
Vijay and his TVK has emerged as the single largest party securing over 38 per cent votes. The political 'newbie' has stormed the state and swept the polls, pushing both the Dravidian parties back.
Though Vijay is short of numbers to form the government, it doesn't matter, as he has put the lid on the Dravidian binary and altered the contest in many constituencies.
One of the most striking factors of this election is the support enjoyed by Vijay and his TVK from women and the youth, who have voted overwhelmingly for him irrespective of welfare schemes.
While the Dravidian parties came up with strategies to win the election, Vijay and his whistle alone mattered in this election and the people did not bother about ideology.
Most of the TVK candidates who have won are political novices chosen by Vijay. Vijay has broken the vote bank of every party in the state, especially the DMK, with a victory that signifies the people's yearning for a change.
Vijay may be short of numbers, but as of now, the Congress, which has won five seats, the VCK which has won from two constituencies, and the Left parties who have won two each by being in the DMK alliance, are likely to extend support to the TVK to make Vijay the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
According to sources in the Congress, VCK and the Left parties and sections of the PMK have already expressed their willingness to be part of the government, and Vijay, too, is not averse to power sharing.
In fact, in his very first public meeting at Vikaravandi in 2024, Vijay had expressed his willingness for a coalition government.
Sources in Vijay's inner circle predict that the government formation might happen within a week and Vijay might take his oath as Chief Minister once the alignments are finalised. Vijay held closed-door meetings with his confidants at his Panaiyur office to discuss a coalition government going forward.
