Vijay Is TVK's CM Candidate, To Take On DMK's Stalin, AIADMK's EPS In 2026 Polls

Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) on Wednesday officially announced that its founder and president Vijay will be the party's Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The declaration was made at the party's special general council meeting held in a private resort in Mamallapuram, signalling the party's intent to position Vijay as a direct contender to DMK's M K Stalin and AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).

The meeting also underlined the party's decision to head an independent front rather than join the AIADMK-led bloc. Over 2,000 functionaries, district-level representatives and general council members attended the session, which began with a tribute to the victims of the Karur stampede on September 27 that claimed 41 lives during Vijay's public event.

Key Resolutions and Political Messaging

The council passed 12 major resolutions outlining TVK's stand on governance and public issues. One of the significant resolutions demanding the Election Commission to stop the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging that it risked excluding eligible voters.

The party slammed both the DMK government and the Union government over the recurring fishermen's arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy, calling their response "indifferent" to Tamil livelihoods. The recent arrest of 35 fishermen was highlighted as a key failure of diplomatic intervention.

The resolutions also flagged safety and law-and-order concerns in the state, citing the recent Coimbatore college student sexual assault case to accuse the DMK government of failing to protect women and children. The party further sought relief measures for delta farmers affected by delayed procurement that led to sprouting crops, and demanded a White Paper on industrial investments.

Calling for better crowd management and protection measures, the TVK urged the State to ensure safety at both public events and for Vijay personally.

Alliance Decision Rests With Vijay

Reiterating its organisational discipline, the general council made it clear that decisions on any potential alliances will be taken solely by Vijay. For now, the stance remains firm - TVK will contest the 2026 polls independently.

This position was echoed last week by TVK joint general secretary C T R Nirmal Kumar after AIADMK leaders hinted at a possible partnership. "There is no change in our stand. What we said a month ago remains the same," he stated, dismissing speculation after TVK flags were spotted at AIADMK rallies.