On March 29, 2026, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and well-known actor C. Joseph Vijay announced the party's candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections. In a significant political move, TVK revealed its candidates for all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu as well as 30 seats in Puducherry. This announcement marks a notable step for the party as Vijay prepares to make his electoral debut by contesting from two constituencies: Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchi East.
The political landscape in these constituencies is competitive. For instance, in Perambur, Vijay's first constituency, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has fielded the incumbent MLA R.D. Shekar, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) front has allocated the seat to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by Anbumani. In Tiruchi East, Vijay's other constituency, the DMK's candidate is incumbent MLA Inigo Irudayaraj, and AIADMK is contesting with K. Rajasekaran. These rival parties and their candidates underscore the intense competition TVK will face in these key areas.
TVK is also fielding several prominent party leaders and former politicians in various constituencies across Tamil Nadu. The party's general secretary, known as 'Bussy' N. Anand, is contesting from T. Nagar in Chennai, a seat where DMK's Raja Anbazhagan and AIADMK's B. Sathyanarayanan are also in the fray. Another veteran politician, K.A. Sengottaiyan, who has been a nine-time MLA under AIADMK before joining TVK earlier this year, will contest from his home ground, Gobichettipalayam. Sengottaiyan's close associate, former Tiruppur Member of Parliament V. Sathyabama, is contesting from Tiruppur North, while former AIADMK Agriculture Minister Ku.Pa. Krishnan is standing from Lalgudi.
Several other TVK leaders are contesting from important constituencies. For example, Aadhav Arjuna, the party's general secretary for election campaign management, is contesting in Villivakkam. This constituency has a strong political contest, with DMK's incumbent MLA from Anna Nagar, M.K. Mohan's son Karthik Mohan, and former Chennai Central MP S.R. Vijayakumar from AIADMK also contesting. TVK's general secretary for policy and propaganda, K.G. Arunraaj, is standing from Tiruchengode, while joint general secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar is contesting from Thirupparankundram. Party treasurer P. Venkataramanan has been fielded from Mylapore, and former AIADMK MLA J.C.D. Prabhakar is contesting from Thousand Lights.
The party has also placed former MLA V.S. Babu as its candidate in Kolathur, where DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is seeking election for the fourth time. Another high-profile contest involves D. Selvam, a recent entrant to TVK who was previously the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee general secretary; he will face DMK youth wing secretary and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.
Other TVK deputy general secretaries, M. Arul Prakasam and A. Rajmohan, will contest from Saidapet and Egmore (a reserved constituency), respectively. N. Marie Wilson, associated with a prominent self-financing educational institution in Chennai, is contesting from R.K. Nagar. The party has also announced a total of 23 women candidates, reflecting a commitment to gender representation.
However, the candidate announcement was not without controversy. A faction of TVK workers from the K.V. Kuppam Assembly segment protested the party's decision, demanding that their preferred candidate, Prabhu, be allocated the seat instead. These workers blocked the arterial Uthamar Gandhi Salai in Nungambakkam, the site where Vijay unveiled the candidate list. The police intervened and removed the protesters from the area.
The announcement ceremony also featured emotional moments. R. Sabarinathan, the TVK candidate for the Virugambakkam Assembly segment, broke down in tears of joy when Vijay declared his candidature. Sabarinathan is the son of Rajendran, who has been a loyal associate of Vijay for over two decades. Vijay was seen comforting him on stage, highlighting the close-knit nature of the party leadership and candidates.
TVK's decision to contest all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 30 in Puducherry signals its ambition to establish itself as a major political force in these regions. Vijay's entry into electoral politics, contesting from two constituencies simultaneously, adds further weight to the party's campaign. The upcoming elections will test TVK's ability to break through the long-standing dominance of established parties like the DMK and AIADMK.
The political scenario in Tamil Nadu is already dynamic, with the DMK and AIADMK fronts fielding strong candidates in various constituencies. The DMK continues to rely on established leaders such as M.K. Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin, while AIADMK has partnered with allies like PMK to strengthen its position. TVK's slate, featuring seasoned politicians who have switched allegiance as well as fresh faces, aims to capitalize on both superstar appeal and grassroots support.
Vijay's campaign has faced some challenges as well. Reports emerged of difficulties in securing permissions for public meetings in Perambur, one of his constituencies, with allegations from TVK leadership that Chennai police and officials denied permission for campaign events. Despite these hurdles, Vijay met with the Chief Electoral Officer and received approval to hold public meetings, signaling that the party is determined to push forward with its election strategy.
Residents of constituencies like Perambur have expressed mixed feelings about the prospects of the elections. While acknowledging progress in their areas, concerns remain over issues such as transportation connectivity and water contamination. These local issues are expected to feature prominently in the campaigns as candidates seek to connect with voters on immediate and practical concerns.
Overall, the TVK candidate announcement represents a critical moment in the build-up to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections. With a full roster of candidates, including Vijay's own electoral debut, the party is positioning itself as a challenger to the dominance of traditional political forces in the region. The coming weeks will reveal how voters respond to TVK's message and whether the party can translate its cinematic popularity and organizational strength into electoral success.
As the election date approaches, all eyes will be on the contests in key constituencies such as Perambur, Tiruchi East, Villivakkam, Kolathur, and Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, where high-profile battles are expected. The results will not only shape the political future of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry but could also influence broader trends in regional politics. The political debut of Vijay and the comprehensive candidate list of TVK add a new dimension to an already vibrant electoral contest.