Vijay TVK campaign launch in Trichy sparks traffic chaos

Trichy, September 14: It was supposed to be a short drive. Eight kilometres from the airport to Marakkadai. Instead, it turned into a six-hour crawl through a suffocating city, as thousands gathered on the roads to catch a glimpse of Vijay, the actor who now wants to be Tamil Nadu’s next political force.

This was the launch of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay’s new party, and his first big statement ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

A Star’s Promise

On the stage, Vijay kept his words measured. No fiery oratory. No dramatic hand gestures. Just a steady message we will only make promises we can actually deliver.

That is an unusual line in Tamil Nadu politics, where parties have long battled over who can hand out more welfare from free televisions to free bus rides. Vijay’s pitch sounded aimed at the middle-class voter who has grown tired of big pledges that rarely survive the budget.

Still, the question is whether restraint sells in a state that has lived on grand announcements for decades.

The City Choked

For residents, the message didn’t matter as much as the mess. Trichy came to a halt. Bus stands clogged up, school vans stranded, tempers high.

Ambulances reportedly got stuck at junctions. Shopkeepers grumbled as foot traffic vanished. College students cursed their luck as exams were missed. By 4:30 in the afternoon, the city was still gasping for relief.

The irony wasn’t lost a party that promises discipline and order started its campaign by throwing civic life into chaos. Supporters, of course, saw it differently. To them, the crowd was proof of Vijay’s reach.

Premalatha’s Comparison

Adding a different note was Premalatha Vijayakanth, who said Vijay’s political journey reminded her of her late husband, Captain Vijayakanth.

Her words carried a mix of pride and warning. Captain had once been hailed as the third force Tamil Nadu was waiting for. His party, the DMDK, rose quickly and then collapsed almost as fast. Premalatha knows better than most how heavy the burden of fan-driven politics can become.

Early Hurdles

TVK is already running into resistance. In Nagapattinam, the police blocked its request to hold a campaign event at Avuri Thidal, saying the DMK had already booked the spot. The party is now scrambling for alternatives.

It’s a small incident, but telling. In Tamil Nadu, newcomers have to fight for space literally.

The Establishment’s Shrug

Meanwhile, Thol Thirumavalavan of the VCK brushed off the noise. Yes, he admitted, TVK might pick up some votes. But it won’t shake the DMK alliance’s chances in 2026.

That calm confidence is typical of the ruling camp. A reminder that while Vijay may command the spotlight, the machinery of Tamil Nadu politics is still locked in a DMK vs AIADMK frame.

Between Spectacle and Survival

History shows that not every star makes the leap. MGR and Jayalalithaa did. Vijayakanth came close, before faltering. Vijay knows the stakes. His choice of words practical, realistic suggests he wants to avoid the trap of overpromising.

But speeches alone won’t do it. He will need a real party machine district offices, trusted candidates, a strategy beyond fan clubs. Without that, Sunday’s spectacle risks being just that a spectacle.

Still, for a debut, it was loud, messy, and impossible to ignore. Trichy may remember the traffic for a long time. But politically, Vijay ensured that TVK’s entry is no longer just a rumour. It is a fact everyone must reckon with.

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