In a striking upset in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026, K. Vijay Dhamu, an auto-rickshaw driver-turned-politician, has emerged victorious from the Royapuram constituency on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ticket. His win has quickly come to represent the sweeping political shift underway across the state.
Giant-killing victory
Vijay Dhamu secured over 55,000 votes, defeating seasoned opponents with a margin of nearly 14,000 votes. In a major political upset, veteran D. Jayakumar, a five-time MLA, was pushed to third place—an outcome few had anticipated in what was long seen as his stronghold.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate, Subair Khan, finished second but could not match the surge of support behind TVK’s campaign, which has been gaining traction across Chennai and beyond.
A grassroots campaign
Breaking away from conventional political pathways, Dhamu built his campaign on his identity as a common man. With years of involvement in Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, the grassroots movement associated with actor Vijay, he presented himself as a voice of everyday citizens rather than entrenched political elites.
His journey—from navigating city streets as an auto driver to entering the legislative assembly—has resonated strongly with voters eager for relatable and accessible leadership.
The ‘Thalapathy’ effect
Observers credit much of TVK’s rapid rise to its founder, actor-politician Vijay. By anchoring the campaign as its central figure, he enabled candidates like Dhamu to concentrate on local issues while benefiting from widespread public mobilisation.
Moments from the party’s candidate announcement event, especially an emotional interaction between Vijay and Dhamu, have gone viral and amplified the party’s grassroots connect.
A new political equation
Early trends suggest that TVK’s assertive outreach and anti-establishment messaging have helped the party cross the 100-seat mark, disrupting Tamil Nadu’s long-standing two-party political structure.