Vijay Names Himself CM Candidate, Rejects All Alliances
In a significant shakeup to Tamil Nadu’s pre-election landscape, political strategist Prashant Kishor has taken a break from his advisory role with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the political party led by superstar Vijay, ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This move, reported on July 5, 2025, by the Times of India, signals a restructuring within TVK’s campaign team as the party ramps up efforts to establish itself as an independent alternative to DMK, AIADMK, and BJP.
Kishor, known for engineering major electoral victories across India, had joined TVK in February 2025 through his analytics firm Simple Sense, vowing to support Vijay’s rise in Tamil Nadu politics. His exit comes as TVK has named Vijay its chief ministerial candidate and confirmed a no-alliance strategy, signaling a bold, go-it-alone approach in a deeply polarized state.
The reasons behind Kishor’s exit remain speculative. However, over 30 employees from his team have also stepped away, with many shifting to Voice of Commons, a consultancy headed by TVK’s General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna. This transition suggests a broader realignment in campaign operations, with Arjuna and political consultant Jhon Arokiasamy taking more prominent roles in TVK’s upcoming outreach efforts.
Prashant Kishor Walks Out — Just Months Before the Political Storm
With Kishor’s departure, all eyes are now on Vijay, who has taken full charge of TVK’s political roadmap. On July 4, 2025, TVK passed a resolution naming Vijay as its official chief ministerial candidate. In the same meeting, Vijay firmly ruled out alliances with BJP, AIADMK, or DMK, branding them as ideological adversaries.
Vijay emphasized that TVK would fight for Tamil pride, condemning the imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit, and defending Dravidian leaders like Periyar and Annadurai. His rhetoric suggests a clear pivot toward regional identity politics, appealing to Tamil Nadu’s historically anti-centralization sentiment.
To strengthen its grassroots presence, TVK has set an ambitious target to enroll 2 crore members, with five regional conferences and 120 district meetings planned between July and August. Vijay will personally undertake a statewide tour from September to December 2025, meeting voters across Tamil Nadu. The party also condemned recent electoral roll revisions and called for action over alleged custodial deaths, signaling its willingness to take up key local issues head-on.
Kishor’s exit, while notable, may not derail TVK’s momentum. However, his absence could impact the party’s strategic edge in voter targeting and alliance navigation. That said, Vijay’s solo leadership and mass appeal still make TVK a formidable new force in Tamil Nadu’s evolving political battlefield.
