Vijay named TVK’s chief ministerial candidate for 2026 Tamil Nadu elections

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Friday officially named actor-turned-politician Vijay as its chief ministerial candidate for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The announcement came during a key committee meeting, where Vijay outlined the party’s political stance and campaign roadmap.

Vijay made an unambiguous declaration that TVK would not align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under any circumstances. “Not publicly, not even behind closed doors,” he said, calling the BJP an “ideological enemy.”

He added, “They may sow seeds of poison elsewhere, but not in Tamil Nadu. You can’t oppose Anna and Periyar and expect to win here.”

He also ruled out any alignment with either the DMK or AIADMK, asserting TVK’s independent position in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.

During the meeting, TVK passed several resolutions granting Vijay full authority to decide on alliances and electoral strategies. The party also announced an ambitious goal of enrolling two crore members across the state in the coming months.

To build momentum ahead of the 2026 polls, Vijay will embark on a state-wide tour from September to December, meeting voters and building grassroots support. The party’s second state conference, scheduled for August, will reveal additional campaign plans and policies.

TVK took strong positions on several issues during the session. It condemned the BJP-led Union government for its handling of the farmers’ protests in Delhi and urged the Tamil Nadu government to scrap the proposed Melma SIPCOT industrial project.

The party also pledged to advocate for mango farmers in Krishnagiri, Theni, Thiruvallur, Salem, and Dindigul, criticizing what it called inadequate efforts by Chief Minister MK Stalin.