Vijay’s Driver’s Son Sabarinathan’s Pick Pays Off as TVK Leads in Virugambakkam Constituency

Early counting trends from the Tamil Nadu assembly elections showed Sabarinathan leading in Virugambakkam on Monday, putting the spotlight on actor-politician Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Initial figures placed Sabarinathan ahead of DMK candidate Prabhakar Raj, prompting strong reactions inside TVK as party workers closely followed television graphics tracking the contest vote by vote.

The lead took on added meaning because of how Sabarinathan secured his ticket. During Vijay's announcement of candidates for all 234 assembly segments, Virugambakkam went to the son of Vijay's long-time driver-turned-personal assistant, Rajendran. The moment, witnessed by party workers and cameras, ended with both father and son crying on stage as the nomination was confirmed.

TVK, Sabarinathan and Vijay in Tamil Nadu elections

At that event, Sabarinathan bent down to touch Vijay's feet, then hugged Vijay while sobbing. Vijay wiped away the tears, while Rajendran, standing nearby, also appeared overwhelmed. That display of emotion now sat alongside the electoral numbers, as the early Virugambakkam lead suggested TVK could turn that sentiment into votes against the ruling DMK in the constituency.

Clips from the candidate announcement function resurfaced on X, formerly Twitter, as counting began. Users shared the video of Vijay naming Sabarinathan and the subsequent hug. One widely circulated post read: "Emotional moment on stage. @TVKVijayHQ gave seat to the son of his Driver Rajendran, who has been with him right from his first film! Loyalty can take you to places," highlighting the length of Rajendran's association with Vijay's film career.

TVK, Tamil Nadu elections and alliance stand

The upbeat mood inside TVK grew as more early numbers appeared. Party spokesperson Felix Gerard told CNN-News18 that the voting pattern signalled a clear shift in Tamil Nadu politics. Gerard called the trends a reflection of public faith in Vijay, adding that people were dissatisfied with both main established parties and now wanted a government that would focus on improving daily life.

On the larger question of alliances, TVK maintained a firm line, according to the CNN-News18 report. Gerard said the party did not see any reason to pursue coalition arrangements with other groups. TVK was aiming to form its own government, Gerard argued, and therefore did not feel compelled to join hands with any ally at this stage.

Rajendran's journey from driving Vijay's car to watching Sabarinathan contest Virugambakkam under TVK encapsulated a personal story running alongside the electoral narrative. As counting continued across Tamil Nadu, the combination of emotional backstory, social media attention and TVK's confidence about governing alone ensured the Virugambakkam race remained one of the closely watched contests.