SS: A blockbuster like no other. An explosive script that simply could not have been predicted. A re-write of political history. Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar – the 51-year-old Kollywood superstar known to fans worldwide as Vijay, or simply as “Thalapathy” (Commander) – has delivered the most seismic electoral debut in Tamil Nadu‘s modern history.
On Monday, his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) defied all naysayers to almost sweep the state election, marking a break in the established political order.
But even as Vijay’s victory has delighted fans and supporters, he has hurdles to cross to reach the top post. To form a government in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly, a party needs 118 seats. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has won 108 – leaving him 10 seats short of a majority.
That means over the next few days, Vijay will need to change from crowd-puller to coalition-builder, negotiating with smaller parties and independent legislators to cross the threshold and stake a claim to power.
Among the election’s most striking results was the defeat of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin – Karunanidhi’s son – who lost his Kolathur stronghold. Stalin’s son, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin – himself an actor-turned-politician who appeared in several Tamil films before following his father into the DMK – survived his own contest.
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SS: A blockbuster like no other. An explosive script that simply could not have been predicted. A re-write of political history. Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar – the 51-year-old Kollywood superstar known to fans worldwide as Vijay, or simply as “Thalapathy” (Commander) – has delivered the most seismic electoral debut in Tamil Nadu‘s modern history.
On Monday, his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) defied all naysayers to almost sweep the state election, marking a break in the established political order.
But even as Vijay’s victory has delighted fans and supporters, he has hurdles to cross to reach the top post. To form a government in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly, a party needs 118 seats. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has won 108 – leaving him 10 seats short of a majority.
That means over the next few days, Vijay will need to change from crowd-puller to coalition-builder, negotiating with smaller parties and independent legislators to cross the threshold and stake a claim to power.
Among the election’s most striking results was the defeat of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin – Karunanidhi’s son – who lost his Kolathur stronghold. Stalin’s son, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin – himself an actor-turned-politician who appeared in several Tamil films before following his father into the DMK – survived his own contest.