Daijiworld Media Network- Madurai

Madurai, Aug 22: Actor-turned-politician Vijay, riding high on an unprecedented wave of popularity, drew massive crowds at his mega rally in Madurai, reaffirming his ambition to capture power in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The charismatic star, who heads the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), declared himself the “lion” of Tamil Nadu politics and announced that his party would contest all 234 seats in the state. He asserted that the 2026 polls would be a direct contest between the ruling DMK and TVK, virtually dismissing the AIADMK as a non-factor.

In a fiery speech, Vijay targeted Chief Minister M K Stalin, the DMK, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP, accusing both of failing Tamil Nadu. He also declared he would not seek allies, but remained open to parties willing to accept his leadership.

Political observers, however, point out that Tamil Nadu’s political arithmetic has always revolved around alliances. Even stalwarts like M G Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa, and Karunanidhi relied on coalition partners to secure power. The DMK has already begun strengthening its alliance with regional outfits, while the AIADMK-BJP front is also expanding.

Without alliances, analysts say, Vijay may find it difficult to translate his immense popularity into seats. Tamil Nadu’s political history shows that even a 30% vote share may not guarantee victory, given the state’s complex electoral dynamics.

While his star appeal and minority, Dalit, and youth support base may cut into both DMK and AIADMK vote banks, Vijay’s biggest challenge remains in building a strong grassroots structure and fielding winnable candidates across all constituencies.

His repeated invocations of MGR are seen as an attempt to capture the AIADMK’s traditional base. With the AIADMK still struggling under Edappadi K Palaniswami’s leadership, political pundits believe Vijay may dent the party’s fortunes, but the extent of damage remains uncertain.

For now, Vijay has roared like a lion and electrified his fans, but turning his massive following into a credible political force will determine whether he can truly disrupt Dravidian dominance in Tamil Nadu.