TVK chief Vijay CHENNAI: TVK president C Joseph Vijay’s electoral debut was shaped by a tightly controlled campaign run by a close-knit core team, a targeted political strategy against the governing DMK, and a rapid expansion of support among minorities, Dalits and section of women voters.Key members of his circle, including N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K A Sengottaiyan, Arun Raj, C T R Nirmal Kumar and strategist John Arockiasamy, handled legal, organisational, digital and political operations through the campaign. This core team played a central role in steering TVK through multiple challenges including the Karur stampede, and repeated issues over campaign permissions and candidate selection.Anand, associated with Vijay since the Vijay Makkal Iyakkam days, managed internal coordination and kept the party structure intact after differences emerged over seat allocation. Election Results 2026Vijay’s TVK party emerges as formidable force in Tamil Nadu; all you need to know about its journeyWest Bengal election results: Mamata lags behind Suvendu Adhikari after 2nd round in BhabanipurTVK pushes DMK, AIADMK to margins; BJP may oust Mamata in Bengal, retain AssamArjuna handled technical and resource support, while he and CTR Nirmal Kumar led TVK’s digital campaign and coordinated legal efforts, including engaging advocates for the stampede case in Supreme Court. Sengottaiyan’s entry into the party in Nov revived organisational activity at a time when TVK’s campaign had slowed after the stampede.Strategist John Arockiasamy was the fulcrum of this inner circle. Sources said he played a major role in opposing, during internal discussions, an alliance with NDA after the ‘Jana Nayagan’ row.Vijay also maintained a consistent political line. He described DMK as his “political enemy”, while framing the election as a direct contest between M K Stalin and himself. He largely avoided targeting deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami or leaders of alliance parties. The approach helped TVK consolidate sections of anti-incumbency votes without fragmenting the anti-DMK electorate.The campaign also saw TVK expand beyond Vijay’s traditional fan base. The party attracted sections of minorities, fishermen and Dalit voters who had largely backed DMK and its allies in earlier elections. Minority votes appeared split in several constituencies. Vijay, himself a Christian, visited churches, temples and mosques during the campaign and projected himself as a leader for all communities. The secular messaging helped TVK distance itself from identity-based polarisation which has historically had limited acceptance in TN politics. TVK also made gains among women voters, a section that had largely shifted towards DMK after J Jayalalithaa’s death.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.About the AuthorRam SundaramRam M Sundaram is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Chennai, where he covers commute, trial courts, and political affairs.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC AppearanceDelhi Approves ₹48,000 Crore Metro Expansion Plan To Connect Outer Regions With City Core123PhotostoriesFrom Tomatoes to Beetroot: 7 red foods that protect our heart every dayKhatron Ke Khiladi 15 confirmed contestants list: Gaurav Khanna, Rubina Dilaik, Orry join Rohit Shetty showApple vs. Banana: Which has more nutrition and should be consumed daily and whySleeping late vs waking early: What your body prefers, the answer might surprise youKim Kardashian to Katy Perry: Worst Met Gala dresses ever that sparked major criticismWhy homemade khasta kachori becomes soft after a few hours: 4 halwai-approved smart tips to make them perfect at homeStruggling with a small home? 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CHENNAI: TVK president C Joseph Vijay’s electoral debut was shaped by a tightly controlled campaign run by a close-knit core team, a targeted political strategy against the governing DMK, and a rapid expansion of support among minorities, Dalits and section of women voters.Key members of his circle, including N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K A Sengottaiyan, Arun Raj, C T R Nirmal Kumar and strategist John Arockiasamy, handled legal, organisational, digital and political operations through the campaign. This core team played a central role in steering TVK through multiple challenges including the Karur stampede, and repeated issues over campaign permissions and candidate selection.Anand, associated with Vijay since the Vijay Makkal Iyakkam days, managed internal coordination and kept the party structure intact after differences emerged over seat allocation. Arjuna handled technical and resource support, while he and CTR Nirmal Kumar led TVK’s digital campaign and coordinated legal efforts, including engaging advocates for the stampede case in Supreme Court. Sengottaiyan’s entry into the party in Nov revived organisational activity at a time when TVK’s campaign had slowed after the stampede.Strategist John Arockiasamy was the fulcrum of this inner circle. Sources said he played a major role in opposing, during internal discussions, an alliance with NDA after the ‘Jana Nayagan’ row.Vijay also maintained a consistent political line. He described DMK as his “political enemy”, while framing the election as a direct contest between M K Stalin and himself. He largely avoided targeting deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami or leaders of alliance parties. The approach helped TVK consolidate sections of anti-incumbency votes without fragmenting the anti-DMK electorate.The campaign also saw TVK expand beyond Vijay’s traditional fan base. The party attracted sections of minorities, fishermen and Dalit voters who had largely backed DMK and its allies in earlier elections. Minority votes appeared split in several constituencies. Vijay, himself a Christian, visited churches, temples and mosques during the campaign and projected himself as a leader for all communities. The secular messaging helped TVK distance itself from identity-based polarisation which has historically had limited acceptance in TN politics. TVK also made gains among women voters, a section that had largely shifted towards DMK after J Jayalalithaa’s death.
