Tamil Nadu is witnessing the ‘Vijay effect’ as Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has made a strong debut in the Assembly elections. The party crossed the majority mark of 118 by 10:50 am on Monday, according to PValue data. TVK is currently leading in 170 seats, with traditional parties Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam trailing behind.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay during a visit to Saibaba Temple, at Shirdi in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, Wednesday, April 29 (PTI)
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Actor-politician Vijay, who officially launched the TVK two years back, with the party getting registered with the ECI the same year, himself is leading Tiruchirappalli (East) constituency by a margin of more than 5200 votes ahead of DMK's S Inigo Irudayaraj. He is also leading by more than 5800 votes in Perambur with DMK's RD Shekar )7196) trailing.
Party leader V S Babu is also looking to be a 'giant killer', leading in Kolathur with more than 4000 votes against incumbent Chief Minister MK Stalin, at the time of writing the report.
According to Election Commission data, TVK is currently leading in 109 constituencies out of the total 234 Assembly segments, as counting of votes is underway across the state on April 23. The AIADMK and DMK were ahead in 63 and 40 seats, respectively. If the party crosses the majority mark of 118 seats, it would be a new history in Tamil Nadu. No party, just two years after its founding, has managed to assume power in Tamil Nadu.
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AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran became the Chief Minister in 1977, five years after starting the party. He had cut his teeth in the DMK for about 2 decades before becoming the chief minister. Hence, TVK's performance if it crosses the majority mark will have no parallels.
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AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran became the Chief Minister in 1977, five years after starting the party. He had cut his teeth in the DMK for about 2 decades before becoming the chief minister. Hence, TVK's performance if it crosses the majority mark will have no parallels.
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Vijay's party took the lead right when the counting began and quickly solidified it. As the process progressed, TVK made its presence felt across segments spread over all regions of the state, including the Western Kongu areas, where the AIADMK-BJP combine has a strong presence. If the trends continue, Vijay could ensure the biggest electoral upset.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/India News/'Vijay effect' across Tamil Nadu as TVK makes blockbuster debut, set to form government
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