What is brewing in Tamil politics?

During the last week of May, one of us visited Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district, a municipal town renowned for the Andal Temple. The temple is known for its iconic 11-tiered tower (rajagopuram), dating back to the early medieval period, which serves as the official emblem of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Like all the 234 Assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu, Srivilliputhur also witnessed a free food distribution drive on May 28 to commemorate World Hunger Day, organized by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Biriyani was served to thousands across the constituency under the leadership of the TVK MLA and other party leaders as part of the World Hunger Day observance.

Annadanam is nothing new to those living in and around historic temple towns such as Srivilliputhur. What makes this initiative noteworthy, however, is the way Vijay and his party have injected a sense of freshness into Tamil Nadu politics by commemorating a global event through an established community practice.

Political freshness
As noted by many political commentators, a widespread “fatigue” with the long-established identity politics of the two Dravidian parties – the DMK and the AIADMK – has contributed to the rise of TVK.

Some of the initiatives Vijay pursued after coming to power had already been undertaken by his fan clubs, which functioned as people’s welfare associations. For instance, the distribution of free food on World Hunger Day was a flagship programme of the Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, a fan-club-turned-welfare organization with an extensive grassroots presence that played a significant role in the last Assembly elections.

TVK's grassroots presence is increasingly visible across Tamil Nadu. A pro-TVK sentiment is evident while travelling through the state, with party flags adorning cars, vans, and public spaces. Posters and flex boards featuring Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay are widespread, dressed up less as a conventional politician and more as a corporate-style leader who can bring professional governance. This carefully crafted image of Vijay seems to appeal to a broad spectrum of Tamilians, particularly Gen Z voters.

Tamil Nadu is one of the fastest-growing economies in India, recording sustained double-digit growth and nurturing an aspirational middle class. Youth voters, who constitute 20.7 per cent of the electorate, many of whom arrived at polling booths dressed like Vijay's characters from his films, aspired to a modern, corruption-free government that they believed only their beloved "Thalapathy" could deliver.

Electoral shift
While the AIADMK struggled with internal divisions and fought the Assembly election with limited expectations, the ruling DMK campaigned confidently on the plank of Tamil identity.

DMK leaders positioned the election as a contest between Tamil Nadu and Delhi, emphasizing the need to protect Tamil culture and identity from the perceived encroachments of an increasingly autocratic, Hindutva-oriented central government.

“Our culture needs to be defended against anybody trying to suppress it. And who can provide better administration comes second to that,” explained DMK stalwart and former minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, popularly known as PTR, during the election campaign.

Many DMK cadres are still struggling to come to terms with the defeat of several of their top leaders, including M K Stalin, at the hands of TVK candidates who campaigned on the promise of a 'clean' and new government under Vijay's leadership.

One of the biggest upsets of the last election was the defeat of Palanivel Thiaga Rajan himself, who lost to a TVK newcomer by a margin of 19,000 votes. What makes PTR's defeat particularly striking is that he was unseated by a relatively unknown candidate in Madurai Central, a constituency long considered a DMK stronghold with a robust organisational presence. Interestingly, this high-profile constituency – home to the landmark Meenakshi Amman Temple and a sizeable conservative Hindu electorate – was won by a TVK candidate who happened to be a Muslim.

At a vegetable store in Watrap village near Madurai, where photos of party leaders were displayed alongside those of deities, we met DMK supporters who were unable to digest the fact that a leader like PTR could lose to a “someone” from Vijay’s party.

Many people may have voted for Vijay rather than for individual TVK candidates. Yet it is worth noting that TVK's candidates were rigorously selected, including by seeking applications from ticket aspirants.

Magic candidates
One of the unexpected moments while watching C Joseph Vijay's swearing-in ceremony came through a Malayali friend's social media status. Along with a photo of  Dr T K Prabhu, the newly elected MLA from Karaikudi, taking oath as a minister in the Vijay government, her status carried a simple yet touching message: “Happy to see my dentist, who gave me a beautiful smile, being sworn in as a Minister in the first TVK Cabinet.”

The friend fondly recalled the frequent visits to Dr Prabhu's dental clinic with her mother for orthodontic treatment during her school days. She spoke highly of Dr Prabhu's expertise, patient-friendly approach, and pleasant demeanour, which quickly made him a popular dentist in Karaikudi. The family also cherished the memory of being invited to his wedding.

The makeover of Dr Prabhu – from a Western-trained popular dentist to a minister in the Vijay government – is just one side of the story. TVK has also fielded candidates hailing from humble professions. For instance, in the Royapuram constituency in North Chennai, the TVK candidate who defeated an AIADMK veteran was an auto driver. It is also worth noting that Vijay’s ministry includes eight members from Dalit communities.

So far, Vijay's stint in Tamil politics has been very much like watching a political thriller film. A man whom many predicted may fail, or at most, would be a kingmaker suddenly poised to become the king himself at the historic Fort St George, the seat of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister. And since assuming office, CM Vijay and the TVK have rapidly consolidated their position through a succession of unconventional initiatives and strategic moves few had anticipated.

While there is still no clear answer about the future of "Thalapathy" in Tamil politics, one thing is certain: Tamil Nadu, which for decades was less defined by religious politics than much of the rest of India, now appears poised to move beyond the signature Dravidian identity politics that has dominated the state's political landscape for over half a century.