Vijay, not Stalin, the preferred CM for Tamil Nadu voters, predicts Axis My India

The pollster's survey found that 37% of respondents backed Vijay as their choice for the next Tamil Nadu CM, placing him ahead of current CM MK Stalin

Updated on: Apr 29, 2026, 20:52:59 IST

Written by Priyanshu Priya

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Actor-turned-politician Vijay has edged past incumbent MK Stalin as the preferred chief ministerial choice among voters in Tamil Nadu, according to the latest projections by Axis My India.

Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay addresses a public meeting ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, in Chennai. (PTI)

The pollster's survey found that 37 per cent of respondents backed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief as their choice for the next chief minister, placing him slightly ahead of current chief minister MK Stalin, who secured 35 per cent support.

EPS emerges third, others trail

Former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was the third most preferred candidate with 22 per cent of votes, indicating a significant gap behind the top two contenders.

Meanwhile, BJP leader K Annamalai garnered just 2 per cent of the vote.

Naam Tamilar Katchi’s Senthamizhan Seeman received backing from 3 per cent of respondents, while 1 per cent either preferred other candidates or remained undecided.

Vijay’s TVK shows strong debut potential

With exit poll projections released on Wednesday, most pollsters have indicated a return to power for the incumbent MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The forecasts broadly point to a comfortable victory for the ruling alliance.

At the same time, several surveys suggest a notable debut for actor Vijay’s TVK, marking it as a significant new entrant in the state’s political landscape. But estimates vary across agencies.

According to People’s Pulse, TVK is projected to win between 18 and 24 seats in its first electoral outing, while P-Marq has placed its tally in the range of 16 to 26 seats. Axis My India, however, has offered a much higher estimate, projecting between 98 and 120 seats for the party.

The final outcome will be known on May 4, when votes are counted across Tamil Nadu, along with West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Priyanshu Priya
Priyanshu Priya is a journalist with nearly three years of newsroom experience, driven by a deep belief that stories, when told right, can shape conversations and hold power to account. Currently working as a Senior Content Producer with Hindustan Times, she writes on a wide spectrum of issues, from Indian politics and Delhi’s public concerns to global trade tensions and high-stakes crime stories. Priya joined HT at a pivotal moment, as Operation Sindoor was unfolding, and has since covered some of the most defining developments in recent times. Her reporting spans the Air India plane crash and the Pahalgam terror attack to India–US trade tensions, unrest in the Middle East, and key Assembly elections across states. She thrives in the fast-paced world of breaking news. In 2025–26, she was recognised with the Hindustan Times Digi Journo of the Q3 Award for driving over 4 million page views in a single month. A postgraduate in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and a Mass Communication graduate from Patna Women’s College, Priya began her news career with the Zee News English team, where she extensively covered the Lok Sabha Election 2024, along with the Delhi and Maharashtra Assembly elections. When she’s not tracking or writing the next big development, she unwinds by watching series and films, reading books with strong female protagonists, and revisiting comfort shows for the familiar ease they bring when life feels a little too jittery.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.