Vijay Emulates NTR with Swift Electoral Rise

Chennai: Vijay, heading the TVK, became the second person after Telugu Desam founder N.T. Rama Rao to achieve electoral success within two years of forming his own party.

Though late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran founded his own party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 1972, he ascended the saddle only in 1977 in Tamil Nadu.

Movie stars entering politics is not uncommon. However, several actors could not sustain their political presence for long. Superstar Chiranjeevi launched his Praja Rajyam in 2008, which later merged with the Congress in 2011. In its time, it won 18 seats in the 294-member undivided AP Assembly.

Chiranjeevi's brother Pawan Kalyan founded the Jana Sena in 2014. He entered the electoral fray in 2019 but lost from both seatsl one candidate from his party was elected.

In 2024, he joined hands with the TD and led his party to a remarkable victory, winning 21 seats with a strike rate of 100 per cent.

In Tamil Nadu, veteran Kamal Haasan founded the Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2018. He contested from Coimbatore South in 2021 Assembly polls but lost narrowly. Later, he aligned with the DMK and became a Rajya Sabha member in 2025.

Popular Tamil actor Vijayakanth, known as 'Captain,' founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2005. In its maiden electoral foray the next year, DMDK put up a good show, with Vijayakanth winning from Vriddachalam.

In 2011 elections, he aligned with the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and became Leader of Opposition. Vijayakanth passed away in December 2023 and his party is now a part of the DMK-led SPA.