In Tamil Nadu long dominated by the DMK and AIADMK, the actor-turned-politician is once again gearing up to reshape the political landscape and make a bid for the top job. Axis My India has predicted actor Vijay’s new gig, TVK, could win 98-120 seats in its first election contest in the state.
The poll conducted by the pollster on the choice of the next prime minister also favors Vijay, with 37 per cent of respondents choosing him as their preferred candidate for the post, followed by MK Stalin.
However, other pollsters expected more modest numbers for TVK. According to People’s Pulse, the party is likely to get between 18 and 24 seats in its first election, while P-Marq estimates it will have between 16 and 26 seats. Matrez predicted that the actor’s party would get 10-12 seats, and Chanakya Strategies predicted that the actor’s party would get 18-26 seats.
Read also: Axis My India Exit Poll: What the Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam election results show
In general, most opinion polls expect the current president to win a second consecutive term The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government is led by MK Stalin, with a seat projection of 120-145 seats.
According to People’s Pulse, the DMK and its allies are expected to win between 125 and 145 seats, while the AIADMK and its partners may win between 65 and 80 seats. People’s Insight expects a slightly narrower band, giving the DMK alliance 120-140 seats and the AIADMK camp 60-70 seats.
The Praja poll presents a more positive outlook for the ruling alliance, estimating 148-168 seats for the KDP and its partners, compared to 61-81 seats for the AIADMK-led bloc. P-Marq similarly expects 125 to 145 seats for the DMK alliance and 65 to 85 for the AIADMK alliance.
Matrez expected the DMK and its allies to get 122 to 132 seats, and 87 to 100 for the AIADMK and its partners. However, Kamakhya Analytics expects the race to be tougher, with the DMK alliance giving 78-95 seats and the AIADMK camp 68-84 seats.
In contrast, the JVC expects the AIADMK alliance to lead in 128 to 147 seats, while the DMK and its allies are expected to get 75 to 95 seats.
Read also: Exit poll results: Close fight in Bengal, BJP sweep in Assam; Kerala could see the return of the UDF, and the DMK in TN
Could Vijay be the next MGR?
Tamil Nadu has often seen its biggest film stars move into politics. With Vijay’s entry into the political arena and opinion polls predicting that his party will win a large number of seats, the actor could become the next chief minister of the state.
Movie stars have long shaped the public imagination, influenced ideology, and campaigned for political movements in the country. Vijay’s win will make him the third actor-turned-politician to rule Tamil Nadu, after the towering legacy left by M G Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa.
MGR, a three-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, first rose to prominence through his films before successfully turning to politics. Ramachandran, the founder of the AIADMK, remains one of the most influential political figures in the state, with a loyal fan base that continues even after his death.
Another legendary actor and politician seen in the southern state is Jay Jayalalithaa, who ruled Tamil Nadu for over 14 years across six terms. Also known as “Amma”, she has enjoyed massive public support for her “action-oriented” and “combined” approach to governance. Jayalalithaa was brought into public life by her mentor and AIADMK founder, late M G Ramachandran, and began her political journey in 1982 when she was appointed as a member of the monitoring committee of the Nutritious Afternoon Meal Scheme.
What awaits TVK chief Vijay in the 2026 Assembly elections remains to be seen. The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
