Vijay Called, TN Voters Went Home In Droves

Vijay Called, TN Voters Went Home In Droves 

DANCE of DEMOCRACY 

They Travelled Using Own Money To Witness Turning Point

Meghna.Dhulia@timesofindia.com 05.05.2026

New Delhi : “When Vijay asked people to come and vote, we took it seriously and went,” said a resident of Trilokpuri, capturing the unusual enthusiasm around the actor’s political debut in Tamil Nadu. In a stunning first outing, Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Monday surged ahead in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, challenging the long-standing dominance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). 

At the time of going to press, TVK was the single largest party. Seen by supporters as a towering screen icon in the league of Rajinikanth, Vijay’s appeal appears to have translated into votes at an unprecedented scale. In east Delhi, migrant voters with roots in Tamil Nadu turned the election into a cross-country exercise. Families spent money, booked tickets weeks in advance and travelled nearly 48 hours by train to vote. Some even flew when trains were unavailable. A few made quick turnarounds, voting one day and returning the next, all at their own expense. 

For many, it was their first time making the journey to vote, driven by a call for change. The remarkable rise of TVK is not just about numbers, but about the emotional pull that travelled far beyond the state’s borders. In pockets like Trilokpuri, where, as per residents, thousands trace their roots to TN, the election became a collective mission. Entire families travelled together, some counting every vote in the household. “All of us went, including my parents and siblings. There were six votes in our family. One of my relatives even took a flight as he could not book a train ticket,” said Tamil Selvi, who works as a domestic help in nearby Mayur Vihar Phase 1. For many, the decision was shaped by a sense of urgency and dissatisfaction. Selvi pointed to recent incidents of unrest in the state, saying people felt “there isn’t that care anymore” and that it was time for change. 

The message from Vijay’s campaign — that “every vote matters” — resonated with the people. “He said we shouldn’t waste our vote,” she recalled, explaining why even those who had never voted before chose to travel. For many like Selvi, support for Vijay did not begin with politics, but with years of watching him on screen, following his films and celebrating his releases, while living far from Tamil Nadu. “He is our favourite. We watch his movies in theatres whenever they release in Delhi. My favourite is Sarkar ,” she said. Vinod, another resident who works at a bank in Delhi and is from Tamil Nadu’s Veerapuram, estimated that 200250 people from Trilokpuri alone made the trip. The motivation, he said, was clear — after years of dominance by two major parties, people wanted an alternative. Echoing similar sentiments about the scale of participation, Manju, another resident, said the turnout went far beyond just Delhibased voters.

 “It wasn’t limited to people in Delhi. Many, including first-time voters, travelled from outside as well,” she said. Vinod said everyday concerns also drove participation. Issues with documentation and accessing services back home had lingered, and voters expressed hope that a new govt might address them. “People are expecting things will improve now,” he said. TVK’s performance places it among a rare set of parties such as AAP and AGP that made rapid electoral breakthroughs. 

The party had generated significant buzz from the outset. But beyond the buzz, it is the image of voters travelling across states that defines this moment. For them, this was about being part of what they see as a turning point back home.