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ISLAMABAD: Indian cinema superstar Vijay has made a dramatic political debut, as his two-year-old party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, emerged as the largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The party won 108 seats in the 234-member assembly, falling just 10 seats short of the 118 needed for a simple majority, NDTV reported. Congress, which won five seats, has decided to back Vijay, taking his support to 113 seats.&nbsp; Vijay is now expected to form the government with support from smaller parties and former allies of the defeated Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. NDTV reported that TVK leaders are also counting on backing from the CPI, CPM and VCK, each of which has two seats. The result marks a major rupture in Tamil Nadu politics, which has for decades been dominated by the DMK and AIADMK. The DMK won 59 seats, while the AIADMK secured 47, according to NDTV&rsquo;s reported tally.&nbsp; The defeat was particularly striking for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who lost his Kolathur stronghold to a TVK candidate. For Vijay, known to millions of fans as &ldquo;Thalapathy,&rdquo; the result has transformed star power into real political authority. Economic Times reported that TVK&rsquo;s campaign relied heavily on a digital-first strategy, using teaser-style messaging, viral videos and tightly controlled online outreach to energize younger voters and convert fan networks into a political base.&nbsp; The Times of India reported that TVK&rsquo;s performance was not uniform across the state, noting that the party won only two of 18 seats in the Cauvery delta region. However, even there, it finished second or third in several constituencies, showing that its influence extended beyond traditional urban pockets.&nbsp; Party leaders hailed the win as historic. K.A. Sengottaiyan, chief coordinator of TVK&rsquo;s high-level steering committee, said the party had secured a massive victory in its debut election without distributing cash to voters.&nbsp; The result has immediately made Vijay one of India&rsquo;s most-watched regional leaders.&nbsp;

Talapathy Vijay - (Photo: Vijay's Instagram )

India

Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK emerges as Tamil Nadu’s largest party in its first election, disrupting status quo dominance and positioning the superstar to form the next government.

Indian superstar Vijay scores blockbuster win in debut election

Reuters

CHENNAI/BENGALURU: At least 31 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Saturday at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, state officials said.&nbsp;&quot;Thirty-one people died with more than 50 people now hospitalised,&quot; said V. Selvaraj, a senior police official in the district of Karur in Tamil Nadu, where the incident occurred.&nbsp;Large crowds had gathered for the meeting, part of Vijay&#39;s ongoing state tour for his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.&nbsp;Vijay, who is a well-known actor and goes by only one name, launched a political party last year and began campaigning this month ahead of state elections that are to be held early next year.&nbsp;State lawmaker Senthil Balaji told reporters that 58 people were hospitalised after what he said was a stampede. He added that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will visit the area on Sunday.&nbsp;&quot;The unfortunate incident during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is deeply saddening,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.&nbsp;Calls to Tamil Nadu state&#39;s health ministry and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin&#39;s office went unanswered.&nbsp;&quot;The news coming from Karur is worrying,&quot; Stalin said in an X post, adding that he had directed ministers and officials to provide urgent medical aid to those who collapsed at the Karur rally and ordered additional assistance from nearby Tiruchirappalli.&nbsp;At least 44 doctors from the nearby districts of Tiruchirappalli and Salem were sent to Karur, media reports said.&nbsp;

Asia

Vijay, who is a well-known actor and goes by only one name, launched a political party last year and began campaigning this month ahead of state elections that are to be held early next year.

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Indian superstar Vijay scores blockbuster win in debut election

At least 31 dead, over 50 injured at Indian actor-politician Vijay's rally, officials say