"Vijay gears up for 2026 election with inaugural party march."

Tamil movie star Vijay, also referred to as "Thalapathy (commander)," is getting ready to host his newly formed party's inaugural political meeting in September, months after announcing his intention to run for office in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The occasion, which is probably going to take place in Tiruchirappalli, has excited both his supporters and political watchers.

A crowd of two to three lakh people is anticipated for Vijay's party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)'s inaugural conference; this may not seem like a big enough gathering for the celebrity who has attracted much bigger crowds at movie theaters. But this would be Vijay's first big step toward turning his enormous fan base into a political following; several movie stars have tried this before, with varying degrees of success.

Vijay's entry into politics from the film industry signifies a dramatic change in Tamil Nadu politics, prompting inescapable comparisons to the late M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, the only other celebrity whose rise from the entertainment industry to politics resulted in the position of Chief Minister. In contrast to actors like Vijayakanth and Kamal Haasan who took similar risks in politics, Vijay is presently one of the biggest stars in Tamil cinema, a status that is probably only surpassed by MGR and his successor Rajinikanth, who also for a long time was rumored to be entering politics before giving up on his dreams in 2020.

In Tamil Nadu, where the two Dravidian parties, the DMK and the AIADMK, dominate the political landscape, Vijay's entry into the political sphere could prove disruptive.

The 20%–30% of the state's voters who are not totally committed to either of the Dravidian parties are Vijay's obvious target audience. Over the past few decades, a number of players have competed for this small but competitive market. It was briefly taken by G K Moopanar's Tamil Maanila Congress in 1996. Captain Vijayakanth took over in 2005, and his Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam had a major, if brief, influence. Other examples include K Annamalai's aggressive attempts through the BJP's social engineering experiments, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam, and Director Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi, with its Tamil nationalist rhetoric. However, none of these could significantly lessen the Dravidian dominance in the state.

However, being a superstar is not enough to succeed in Tamil Nadu politics. Past Events 

Other performers, like Captain Vijayakanth and Kamal Haasan, found it difficult to translate their celebrity in the movies into political influence since they had a similar intellectual foundation. As suggested by his party's statement, Vijay's philosophy seems to be based on the Tirukkural, a sacred book in Tamil culture, which espouses global humanism. It remains to be seen whether his emphasis on empathy, non-violence, and respect for life translates into a coherent political narrative, but these are principles that people may find appealing.

Developing a legitimate party structure and turning his enormous fan base into a political force are Vijay's two biggest challenges. According to people close to Vijay, he is in discussions with possible allies, including as some former DMK and AIADMK leaders who have stepped down from public office.

Traditional barriers are not able to resist Vijay's star appeal. He has a wide base of support because of his appeal to people of all ages, castes, and religions, in both rural and urban settings.

Many factors, according to people close to Vijay, led him to choose Tiruchirappalli as a potential location for the first convention of his party. Located in the center of Tamil Nadu, the area is home to a variety of communities, including the Udayar and Pillai communities, with whom Vijay has personal relationships, as well as a strong Christian tradition and population. An aide speculates that Vijay might even run for office there in the future.

Even though Vijay is a Christian, he enjoys going to temples and participating in Hindu rituals, much like many other celebrities in the profession. Although some observers would find his upbringing as a minority Christian interesting, it is unlikely to determine his political identity. His marriage to a Tamil woman of Sri Lankan descent and his Udayar ethnic roots would further In his public communications, Vijay, however, is neither a Jayalalithaa nor a Karunanidhi. He is not supported by the same movement as MGR was. Vijay's undeniable celebrity and devoted youthful fan base, which rank him with MGR and Rajinikanth, are his sole potent weapons. Vijay has the difficult job of demonstrating that he is more than simply a celebrity when he enters the complicated arena of politics and that he is the powerful, unifying leader that Tamil Nadu has sorely needed.