And Tamil Nadu politics has one thing to say: It’s about to undergo what could be one of the biggest realignments in decades, with actor-turned-politician Vijay and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party backed by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
This has led to discussion at some level with the political institutions and social media users (factions that could fundamentally change the political makeup of the state). The talk comes at a time when Vijay’s popularity has surged after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The superstar’s meteoric rise from box office sensation to political heavyweight has rattled the state’s entrenched parties and left some political players in the state scrambling ahead of upcoming elections. “One of our top officials has said they are conducting an inner conversation with our top leadership at AIADMK, discussing how we can partner with TVK,” he said.
No formal announcements would be made, but there are whispers of offhand discussions between leaders from both sides and officials from both sides. AIADMK’s backing of TVK astounded many onlookers for the parties belong to two very different political eras. AIADMK, which is one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest and most popular Dravidian parties, has dominated the news, while TVK is a relatively newcomer in a landscape controlled by Vijay’s mass popularity and youthful charm.
But political forces and changing voter habits, kept under the purview of analysts, are driving both parties to become more aligned in one another’s orbit. A partnership with Vijay would also assist AIADMK in appealing to the young voters and urban audiences more eager than ever to have a turn towards celebrity-driven politics.
Vijay's huge viewership in the state of Tamil Nadu, including first-time voters, is considered one of its key electoral advantages. Similarly, supporting AIADMK gives TVK a sizable cadre base and electoral power in rural areas of Tamil Nadu. This, they say, could bring many challenges to rival parties, but more so to the powerful party DMK and its representatives.
Should AIADMK and TVK concur, the alliance could be partly anti-incumbency votes mixed, and a more powerful government. The reports are also stirring up ambivalent sentiment among party supporters. Other AIADMK cadres are said to be optimistic about a strategic alliance, viewing Vijay’s popularity as a hopeful new start for the party.
But there were worries by other supporters that if Vijay showed such an outsized image, the party would lose its traditional aspect. Meanwhile, the TVK loyalists took to the internet, where memes, messages and the like raving about a potential alliance marked by a “historic political moment” made headlines.
Fans question what they themselves will do in the future, and many hashtags related to Vijay and TVK have gone viral all over the internet. Ironically, Vijay’s politics, in general, were very measured overall, with governance and welfare announcements and government communication heavyweights ever since then.
This newcomer to political life, such a low-key actor, has nevertheless spread so much of this awareness in society that anything can be done. AIADMK and TVK have had longer delays in coming to any official confirmation of the alliance reports. Each party’s senior representatives have tried to deflect media inquiries, adding a little suspense to speculation.
If the alliance were to materialise, it would be among the most consequential political events in decades for Tamil Nadu. AIADMK’s traditional voting base mixed with Vijay’s unparalleled celebrity presence might have the effect of fundamentally altering election calculus in the state. Yes, up until now, all eyes have turned to Chennai as political observers wonder whether an improbable partnership could soon transform from speculation into reality.
