Vijay takes TVK campaign to Namakkal and Karur, targets 2026 Assembly polls

Actor-politician Vijay led TVK rallies in Namakkal and Karur on Saturday, signalling a push into AIADMK territory. The events underline TVK’s grassroots expansion ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and Tamil cinema star Vijay on Saturday carried his Assembly election campaign to Namakkal and Karur, continuing his weekly public outreach programmes.

He addressed supporters in Namakkal this morning before heading to Veluchamipuram near Karur for a noon rally — notably at the same venue where AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami recently held a major meeting.

---

Thousands of cadres lined the route to welcome Vijay, who flew from Chennai earlier in the day. Police have made elaborate security arrangements in both districts.

Grassroots strategy
Since formally launching TVK in early 2024, Vijay has transformed the party from a fan-driven initiative into an organised political platform with district committees and structured outreach.

TVK’s first major public conference in Vikravandi, Villupuram, in October 2024 drew unexpectedly massive crowds, establishing the party as a challenger to established Dravidian players. The momentum continued with the second state-level conference in Madurai in August 2025, where Vijay outlined a “people-first” agenda on corruption-free governance, quality education, and youth employment.

Since then, Vijay has toured extensively, adopting a strategy of visiting two districts each weekend — sometimes extending to Sunday — to directly connect with rural and semi-urban voters.

Symbolic move
Observers note that holding a rally at Palaniswami’s recent venue is a pointed signal of TVK’s intent to contest traditional AIADMK strongholds in western Tamil Nadu.

Party insiders say the Namakkal and Karur meetings are crucial in consolidating support in a politically mixed region that will play a key role in the 2026 Assembly outcome.

As elections draw nearer, TVK is working to convert Vijay’s mass cinema appeal into structured political support, projecting itself as a credible alternative to the Dravidian majors.