Thalapathy Vijay’s victory delivers a strong message!

Visakhapatnam: As the people of Tamil Nadu settle down celebrating the electoral victory of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which won 108 seats, Tamilians settled in Visakhapatnam opine that the shift clearly indicates voters’ strong stance toward breaking the decades-long dominance of the Dravidian parties in the state.

Although TVK’s historic debut was not entirely unexpected, it is, however, considered a firm step toward reshaping Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. In a state where hero-worship often influences political power, Thalapathy Vijay’s victory is set to wield a new magic wand in Tamil Nadu. Even as Vijay needs to stitch allies to gain 10 more seats to form the government, expectations soar over how he will sustain the victory-path ahead. Sharing his views, Commander Chinnaiya Kandasamy, a retired naval officer who has settled in Visakhapatnam for the past four decades, says, “Tamil Nadu is certainly going to witness a change following the TVK’s victory. But it also largely depends on how well actor-turned-politician Vijay tries to sustain his position by engaging a strong advisory system, seeking advice from experienced bureaucrats and using his wisdom effectively.”

As the DMK faced a brutal verdict in the 2026 polls, it paved the way for a new shift in the political dominance that ruled Tamil Nadu for decades. “TVK’s political debut indicates something beyond routine anti-incumbency. The polls reflected the confidence the TVK reposed in its cadre. Apart from the regular anti-incumbency factor, the election mirrored the people’s desperation to break the pattern of voting for either Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIDMK), usher in risk and repose faith in the new party,” opines GR Mohan, another Tamilian.

Apparently, this election, the younger generation thought differently and was quite instrumental in persuading their family members too to take the risk and, above all, think beyond the ‘duopoly’ that had ruled the state for so long, Mohan adds.

Apparently, Thalapathy has several challenges to navigate because most of the cadre is new to the political fray. Emphasising that ‘Gen-Z’ played a big role in Vijay’s victory, a 93-year-old Tamilian AB Jayaraman, shares, “The 2026 elections delivered one strong message: voters will not be bought if they decide to usher in change. This is the reality, no matter how much they get pampered by the contesting candidates through expensive goodies before the polls. Apart from the Gen-Z, women voters also extended their support to the TVK,” the nonagenarian mentions. After all the blockbuster screenplays and umpteen onscreen ‘good guy’ roles essayed, whether they will translate into ‘good governance’ remains to be seen.