Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
In a stunning debut electoral performance, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay has rewritten the state’s political script. Contesting his maiden election, the actor-turned-leader saw his party emerge as the single largest force, capturing 108 seats. Adding to the spectacle, Vijay himself secured twin victories-winning both the Perambur and Tiruchirapalli East constituencies in a clean sweep that has left rivals recalibrating.
Official confirmation from TVK is still pending, but multiple Tamil media reports strongly indicate that Vijay will retain Perambur. The decision, once announced, will trigger his resignation from the other seat-Tiruchirapalli East-in compliance with election law.
Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay won both Perambur and Tiruchirapalli East seats in his debut election, contributing to his party’s 108-seat tally; he must now choose which single constituency to retain.
The numbers tell a compelling story. In Perambur, Vijay routed DMK’s RD Shekar by a massive margin of 53,715 votes-a seismic shift in a constituency Shekar had held since the 2019 by-election and retained in 2021. Tiruchirapalli East was no less decisive: Vijay defeated DMK’s S Inigo Irudayaraj, the incumbent since 2021, by 27,416 votes, polling 91,381 votes in total. Both seats underwent 22 rounds of counting, underscoring the intensity of the contest.
Vijay’s campaign in Tiruchirapalli was a high-octane affair, cutting through the bustling Gandhi Market to the narrow lanes of the Rockfort area, drawing unprecedented crowds. Yet, Perambur-an urban seat in the state capital-offers superior visibility, proximity to power corridors, and a strategic base for a party leader seeking to consolidate his capital gains. Trichy East, on the other hand, was chosen deliberately to signal TVK’s expansion beyond Chennai and pierce the DMK’s long-held Delta stronghold.
According to the Section 70 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no legislator can hold two seats in a state assembly simultaneously. Vijay now has 14 days to formally declare his choice. Failure to do so would render both seats vacant.
While he has not yet issued any official statement, all signs point toward him retaining Perambur and resigning from Tiruchirapalli East, a move that will trigger a by-election in the latter. For now, the political class waits with bated breath.
