TVK chief and actor Vijay. File | Photo credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
The desire for an alternative to Tamil Nadu’s main political forces – the ruling DMK and AIADMK – among large sections of society may be behind the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) fielding some of its top leaders in certain constituencies.
For the purpose of this study, the data regarding vote shares in the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) both for the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections; Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in 2021; and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led front in 2024 was taken into consideration. For this year’s assembly elections, MNM has allied with DMK and BJP and Amma Makkal Munentra Kazhagam (AMMK) with AIADMK.
In Perambur and Tiruchi (East), where TVK founder C. Joseph Vijay is contesting, the combined vote share figures of NTK and MNM in 2021 were 18.4% (for Perambur) and nearly 14.9% (Tiruchi (East)). Three years later, they rose to almost 25% and 18.3%. As for Perambur and Tiruchi (East), BJP and AMMK candidates were in the fray.
Similarly, in the previous assembly elections in T. Nagar and Mylapore, which fall under the South Chennai Lok Sabha constituency, the MNM secured 10.55% and 9.7% of the polled votes respectively five years ago. NTK’s scores were quite modest, about 6% each in two places. The sum of the strength of both parties was around 16% in these constituencies. During the Lok Sabha elections, the presence of Tamilisai Soundararajan as the BJP candidate made the difference as the national party’s vote share was 36% and 28% respectively. As for NTK, it basically kept its strength. As a result, the total vote share was around 41.5% for T. Nagar and 34.6% for Mylapore.
Villivakkam, which falls under the Central Chennai Lok Sabha constituency, saw the two non-DMK and non-AIADMK formations securing around 17% and 29% respectively in the two elections.
Of the five seats, it was in Tiruchi (East) that non-DMK and non-AIADMK formations were unable to significantly improve their performance during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the remaining seats, the combined vote share of NTK and NDA ranged from nearly 25% in Perambur to 41.5% in T. Nagar.
“Convenient Seats”
However, a key TVK functionary rejects the claim that the selection of constituencies for high profile candidates was done keeping in mind the factors of religion and caste composition. The affected seats were found to be “favorable” in the party’s assessment and the decision “not to be taken narrowly”.
Published – 31 March 2026 16:46 IST
