Chennai: Cadres of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Sunday passed a resolution urging party president and actor-turned-politician Vijay to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from the Perambur constituency in North Chennai.

The resolution was moved at a party meeting in Chennai by TVK election campaign management secretary Aadhav Arjuna. Party general secretary N Anand later confirmed that the leadership would be informed of the cadres’ demand.

“We wholeheartedly accept the resolution moved by Aadhav and will convey your wish to Thalapathy,” Anand said.

Addressing the gathering, Arjuna said the party leadership preferred to contest from constituencies facing higher levels of poverty and greater public need, stating that North Chennai reflected such conditions. He indicated that Vijay was likely to choose from constituencies including Perambur, Kolathur or R K Nagar.

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Arjuna added that Vijay’s decision to focus first on North Chennai was influenced by incidents in which TVK functionaries were allegedly manhandled while campaigning peacefully in the Harbour constituency.

Referring to the DMK’s claim that Chennai is its political stronghold, Arjuna said TVK was deliberately launching its campaign in the city. “From now on, Chennai belongs to TVK,” he said.

In a parallel statement, Arjuna reiterated that TVK chief Vijay would contest from one of the North Chennai constituencies in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2026. Earlier this month, he had asserted that Vijay was ready for extensive public outreach and direct engagement with voters across the state.

“Our leader Vijay is ready to run. He is ready to be on the ground and connect with people,” Arjuna said at a recent press conference, while also raising concerns about police Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing public meetings. He noted that while organisers are held responsible for public safety, armed police units in each district also share that responsibility.

The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly is scheduled to go to the polls in the first half of 2026. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK-Congress alliance secured 151 seats to form the government under Chief Minister M K Stalin.

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As political activity intensifies ahead of the high-stakes polls, alliances are being reshaped. In a significant development, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) has joined the DMK-led alliance. DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth and treasurer L K Sudish recently met Chief Minister Stalin at the DMK headquarters, Arivalayam, in Chennai to formalise the tie-up.

Premalatha Vijayakanth confirmed that the alliance had been sealed and said seat-sharing arrangements would be finalised after discussions between the two parties. “We are sure that our alliance will win more than 200 seats,” she said.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK-BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is preparing to challenge the ruling DMK-Congress combine. The entry of Vijay’s TVK into the fray is expected to make the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections a triangular contest, particularly in Chennai and other urban constituencies.

Inputs from agencies