Vijay asks TVK winners to gather at resort after results amid poaching fears

Amid strong exit poll projections, Vijay has told winning TVK candidates to reach Panaiyur as soon as results are declared. The move reflects the party's effort to keep its elected members together after a candidate went missing during scrutiny.

In Short

• The move followed an Edappadi candidate going missing during scrutiny
• Exit polls suggest TVK has disrupted Tamil Nadu's entrenched two-party contest
• Today's Chanakya projected 63 seats and roughly 30 per cent votes

With exit polls projecting a strong debut for actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party leadership has moved swiftly to guard against possible defections, triggering early signs of “resort politics” in Tamil Nadu.

Sources said instructions have been issued to all winning TVK candidates to immediately report to the party’s Panaiyur headquarters once results are declared. The move is aimed at keeping the flock together in a tightly contested political scenario where numbers could determine government formation.

Party insiders indicated that, depending on the final tally, TVK may shift its MLAs to a secure location — including a resort — to prevent any poaching attempts by rival camps. The decision, sources said, is part of a contingency strategy being readied in advance of the results.

The precautionary step comes after an incident during the scrutiny phase, when a TVK candidate from Edappadi allegedly went missing briefly, raising concerns within the party about vulnerability to pressure tactics.

EXIT POLLS FUEL HIGH-STAKES SCENARIO

The heightened alert within TVK follows exit poll projections that suggest a major disruption to Tamil Nadu’s traditional two-party system dominated by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

According to the Today’s Chanakya exit poll, TVK could win around 63 seats (11) with an estimated vote share of about 30 per cent, positioning it as a decisive third force behind the DMK-led alliance.

However, Axis My India has projected a far stronger showing, estimating 98–120 seats for TVK in the 234-member Assembly — numbers that could bring it close to the majority mark of 117 and potentially make it the single largest party.

YOUTH SUPPORT, BROAD SOCIAL BASE

Both projections point to a significant consolidation of support behind TVK, particularly among younger voters, urban constituencies, and sections of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, and Scheduled Castes. The party’s “change” plank appears to have resonated with first-time voters and the unemployed.

Vijay’s rising political appeal is also reflected in leadership preference surveys, where he is seen running close to Chief Minister M K Stalin.

THIRD FORCE OR KINGMAKER?

While projections differ in scale, they converge on one conclusion: TVK has altered Tamil Nadu’s electoral landscape. If the lower-end estimates hold, the party could emerge as a key power centre. If the higher projections materialise, it may be in contention to form the government.

Against this backdrop, TVK’s move to consolidate its legislators signals a high-stakes battle ahead, with every seat likely to count in the post-result political arithmetic.

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