Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) party performed well above many expectations in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, emerging as the single largest party in the state. The actor-turned-politician could become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
TVK, which was formed in 2024, won 107 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, results announced on Monday showed. The incumbent DMK alliance won 74 seats, while the NDA won 53 seats. This means that the newer party, led by the actor, is in pole position to form the government, although it is still far from the majority mark.
But there was a time when Vijay did not want to enter politics at all. He sued his parents to get him to do the same.
When Vijay filed a lawsuit against his parents
Vijay’s father, SA Chandrashekar, started a political party, Vijay Makkal Iyakam (VMI), in 2020, turning the actor’s already existing fan club into a political outfit. Chandrashekar became the party’s general secretary, while his wife and Vijay’s mother, Shobha Chandrashekar, became treasurer. But it seems that they did not consult their son about this issue.
In September 2021, Vijay filed a lawsuit against 11 people, including his parents, to prevent them from using his name, photos or the name of his fan club for any political activities.
Vijay officially distanced himself from his father’s political efforts, stating that there was no direct or indirect relationship between him and the party his father started.
Then comes a change of heart.
Vijay’s entry into politics
In February 2024, Vijay took the step his father wanted him to do and officially launched TVK. The party was registered with the Election Commission in September of that year.
According to the party, TVK is aligned with secular social justice and equality, following the principles of Dr BR Ambedkar, Periyar and K Kamaraj.
The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections were Vijay’s first direct foray into electoral politics, though he tested the waters in the state local body polls through his fan club. He made a stunning entry into the field, winning the Perambur and Tiruchi East constituencies.
His party won by 107 votes, short of the majority mark of 118. But it broke the DMK-AIADMK duopoly in Tamil Nadu that had lasted since 1967.
