Is TVK Chief Vijay on Track to Become Tamil Nadu’s Next MGR? Exit Polls Weigh In

In a Tamil Nadu long dominated by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, actor-turned-politician Vijay appears poised to shake up the political landscape. Axis My India projects that his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, could win between 98 and 120 seats in its debut election.

The agency’s survey on chief ministerial preference also places Vijay ahead, with 37% respondents backing him, followed by incumbent M. K. Stalin. However, other pollsters offer more conservative estimates, with most projecting TVK’s tally in the range of 10 to 26 seats.

Across the board, the majority of exit polls still indicate a second consecutive term for Stalin’s DMK-led alliance, with projections typically ranging between 120 and 145 seats. In contrast, the AIADMK-led bloc is expected to secure anywhere between 60 and 100 seats, depending on the survey. A few outliers suggest a tighter contest, and one poll even gives the AIADMK alliance a potential edge.

Can Vijay replicate past star-politicians?

Tamil Nadu has a long history of cinema icons transitioning into politics. If Vijay’s party performs strongly, he could follow in the footsteps of legendary figures like M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa—both towering actor-politicians who went on to lead the state.

MGR, founder of the AIADMK, served multiple terms as chief minister and built a lasting mass appeal. Jayalalithaa, his political protégé, later ruled the state for over a decade, earning widespread support through welfare-driven governance.

Whether Vijay can emulate their success remains uncertain, but his entry has clearly added a new dimension to the 2026 contest. The final verdict will be known when votes are counted on May 4.