Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is an Indian regional political party active in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. It was founded on 2 February 2024 by actor-turned-politician Vijay, who became its first president. The party is headquartered in Panaiyur, Chennai.
๐ Origins and Formation
In July 2009, actor Vijay organised his fan clubs under a welfare association titled Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. The association supported the AIADMK-led Alliance in the 2011 elections for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The organisation contested local body elections in Tamil Nadu in 2021 and won 115 out of 169 seats it contested.
๐ฃ๏ธ Political Statements and Launch
Vijay made occasional political statements such as condemning the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in February 2019. On 2 February 2024, Vijay announced the launch of TVK and stated his intent to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections.
๐๏ธ Ideology and Conferences
In September 2024, TVK announced its ideological alignment with centre-left, following the ideologies of Ambedkar, Periyar, and Kamaraj. On 27 October 2024, TVK held its first political conference in Vikravandi, reportedly attended by over 800,000 people. Vijay termed the BJP as an “ideological opponent” and the DMK as a “political adversary”.
โ๏ธ Controversies and Incidents
On 16 April 2025, the All India Muslim Jamaat reportedly issued a fatwa on TVK chief Vijay regarding an iftar gathering and his film roles. On 27 September 2025, a crowd crush during a campaign rally in Karur resulted in at least 41 deaths and 80 injuries. On 4 March 2026, TVK supporters were reported to have created fake social media accounts impersonating media outlets.
๐ Election Preparations and Promises
On 7 March 2026, Vijay unveiled the party’s first set of promises ahead of the 2026 elections, primarily women-centric. On 18 March 2026, Vijay stated the party would contest alone in all seats. On 29 March 2026, the party announced candidates for all seats and released the manifesto.
| Date | Event | Location | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 2024 | Party Launch | Chennai | Founded by Vijay |
| 27 Oct 2024 | First Conference | Vikravandi | 800,000 attendees |
| 27 Sep 2025 | Crowd Crush | Karur | 41 deaths, 80 injured |
| 29 Mar 2026 | Manifesto Release | Tamil Nadu | Candidates for all seats |