Vijay’s new party not in Vikravandi race

Chennai: Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), the recently launched political party of film actor Vijay, would neither participate nor support any other party in the July 10 by-election to the Vikravandi Assembly constituency or any other elections till the 2026 Assembly polls, TVK general secretary N Anand said.

Announcing the launch of the party on February 2, Vijay had clearly stated that the action plan, policies, principles of the TVK would be unveiled at that first conference and that the founder would then undertake a tour of the State to meet the people and elicit their views, said Anand through an official press release on Tuesday..

While the party would contest the 2026 Assembly elections and form the next State government, it would not take party any election in the interregnum, Vijay had already made it clear, the press release said. The party had also taken a similar stand in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls,

The latest announcement from TVK could be a disappointment for Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator, Seeman, as he had expressed his support to Vijay and even said that he would not mind aligning with him, while the other parties might only heave a sigh of relief.

Since Vijay has a considerable fan following, particularly among the younger generation, through his films in the State, the political parties fear that he could cut into their vote bank if the supports a particular party or alliance. So, his decision not to support anyone in the Vikravandi by-election is only happy news for them.

For, the Vikravandi by-election has been taken very seriously by the ruling DMK and the PMK that has fielded its candidate. The BJP, which is supporting its NDA partner, the PMK, is also keen on defeating the DMK.

While it will be a straight fight between DMK candidate Anniyur Siva and PMK’s C Anbumani, with the AIADMK boycotting the election, the BJP has sworn to work hard to ensure the NDA candidate’s victory. Even BJP State president K Annamalai is scheduled to canvass for PMK.

The only political nominee in the race, other than Anniyur Siva and Ramadoss, is NTK’s Abinaya, who might have benefitted if Vijay had supported Seeman. But now she will have to depend only on the votes of NTK supporters.

The DMK has already deputed its top honchos for working in the constituency and regular meetings are being held by them with the party workers, campaigners and booth committee members and agents. The DMK’s focus will be on winning over the traditional AIADMK voters, other than its own vote bank.

The same is the agenda of the PMK. whose president Anbumani Ramadoss has plunged himself into the preparation for the livewire campaign that will see the PMK workers breathe fire and brimstone against the DMK government in what is considered to be a Vanniyar pocket.

Besides Ramadoss will also receive support from the breakaway groups of the AIADMK like those led by O Panneerselvam and T T V Dinakaran.

All the allies of the DMK will back Anniyur Selva in the seat that fell vacant due to the death of DMK MLA N Pughazhenthi in the thick of the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. The DMK had wrested the seat from the AIADMK in the 2021 general election.