Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay made history in the 2026 Assembly elections after his party TVK emerged as the single largest party by winning 107 seats in the 234-member assembly of the state. He is now set to become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The TVK only registered as a party in February 2024, and it is the first time Vijay has contested the assembly elections.
Much of the actor’s entry into politics can now be traced back and credited to his father, SA Chandrasekhar.
On Monday, as early counting trends showed the TVK’s string performance, Chandrashekar told reporters that parties like the Congress should consider joining with Vijay, saying, “Ally with Vijay, he will give you the power you lost.”
In 2009, Vijay formed his fan club, the Vijay Makkal Iyakam, consolidating all his fans under one umbrella.
In 2020, his father transformed the VMI into a political party and attempted to register the organisation as a political body. He named himself the general secretary of the party, and his wife and Vijay’s mother, Sobha Chandrasekhar, became the treasurer. However, he reportedly made the efforts without informing Vijay.
The following year, Vijay filed a lawsuit against his parents and 9 others to prevent them from using his image and name for political efforts.
He also distanced himself from his father's political efforts and stated that he had no connection to the party started by his father. The party was subsequently dissolved.
One film industry source told the Indian Express in 2023, “His father initiated his political plans in 2009 when the fan group was formed. Vijay has always been uncertain and unsure about his political destiny. In 2021, he told us privately that he might not consider politics until a significant political vacuum arises in the state.”
The ‘political vacuum’ seemed to have risen by February 2024, and Vijay changed his mind as he officially recognised his fan club as a party, renamed it the TVK and registered with the election commission by September. A year later, the party won 115 out of 169 seats at the rural local body polls.
The party went on to campaign heavily before the Assembly elections and saw its big win on Monday.
After the win, Chandrashekar extended his wishes, saying to reporters, "In the last two years, his confidence has been fantastic, and he had faith that he would become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
His courage as a leader to stand alone without any alliance is commendable. I see this as a historic achievement for him. As a father, I am very proud and happy. Congratulations to my son,” he said.