When Will Vijay Release TVK's Candidate List?

Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) appears to be entering the final stretch of its election preparations, with senior leaders indicating that the much-awaited candidate selection process is nearly complete. The party, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, is gearing up for the April 23 Assembly elections with a mix of confidence and calculated strategy.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with prospective candidates at the party's Panaiyur office, TVK joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar said the leadership is in the final phase of shortlisting names. According to him, most districts have already been covered and the groundwork has largely been completed. The final list, he hinted, is now being fine-tuned before an official announcement.

On the alliance front, TVK has maintained a cautious but open stance. Kumar reiterated that the party would not dilute its ideological stand, especially on secularism. At the same time, he left the door ajar for potential allies, making it clear that any partnership would hinge on accepting Vijay as the chief ministerial candidate and aligning with the party's core principles.

The TVK leader also launched a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), claiming that several of its ministers are on the defensive. He alleged that key leaders are exploring safer constituencies amid growing anxiety over TVK's entry into the electoral fray. Referring specifically to HR&CE Minister P K Sekarbabu, Kumar claimed that even senior figures are reconsidering their electoral turf. "No seat in Chennai is safe anymore," he asserted, signalling TVK's aggressive ambitions in the capital.

Behind the scenes, Vijay has already begun shaping the party's candidate base. Around 50 candidates are believed to have been interviewed and finalised. Interestingly, the list reportedly includes S Ashok, a former functionary of Rajinikanth's fan club-an unexpected move given recent tensions between supporters of the two camps. Ashok is likely to be fielded from Chennai's Harbour constituency, setting up a potentially high-profile contest.

Other notable names include JCD Prabhakar in Thousand Lights and Revanth Saran, owner of Rohini Theatre, in Maduravoyal-choices that underline TVK's attempt to blend grassroots appeal with local influence. Party insiders say Vijay has made it clear that TVK is not contesting merely to play spoiler but to form the government, urging candidates to focus on a unified and winning campaign.

Meanwhile, organisational work continues at a brisk pace. General secretary N Anand has directed district units to submit final recommendations for the remaining seats. Leaders in southern Tamil Nadu have also been asked to prepare for Vijay's upcoming campaign tour, even as he briefly travelled to Mumbai for a personal engagement.

When will TVK release candidate list?

The big question now is timing. While there is no official confirmation yet, party insiders suggest that TVK is likely to unveil its complete list of candidates for all 234 constituencies within the next week. For now, the suspense continues.