In a move that promises to create a stir in Puducherry’s political circles, actor-turned-politician Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is scheduled to hold a significant roadshow and a street-corner meeting in the Union Territory on October 11. This event precedes his political tour in the neighboring Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu and is expected to intensify speculation ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The TVK has formally requested police permission for a roadshow that will traverse key areas of Puducherry town, including Ajantha Signal, S.V. Patel Salai, Anna Salai, Sonampalayam, and Marappalam Junction. Additionally, the party seeks approval for a grand welcoming ceremony for Vijay at Kalapet and a street-corner address at Sonampalayam in the Uppalam constituency during the roadshow.
A senior police official confirmed that a request from TVK functionaries to host the roadshow and a public meeting on October 11 has been received. Authorities are currently gathering necessary reports from various police units and government departments before granting final approval.
Strained AINRC-BJP Relations and Vijay’s Influence
Despite not yet officially declaring his foray into Puducherry’s electoral politics, actor Vijay boasts a substantial and long-standing fan base in the region. Notably, this admiration extends to influential figures like Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, the founder-president of the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC). Furthermore, Puducherry is the home turf of TVK’s general secretary, N. Anand, widely known as Bussy Anand. Anand, a former legislator and AINRC member, later joined TVK, adding local weight to the party.
Anand’s political background includes his election to the Puducherry Assembly in 2006 from the Bussy constituency (now Uppalam) under the banner of the now-defunct Puducherry Munnetra Congress, a party established by the late MP P. Kannan.
Chief Minister Rangasamy, who has consistently expressed his admiration for Vijay, recently extended birthday wishes to the actor, publicly wishing him success in his political endeavors. Interestingly, TVK representatives also met with the Chief Minister two days prior to discuss the planned roadshow and meeting in Puducherry.
Political observers have been buzzing with rumors of a potential shift in the AINRC’s alliance dynamics, especially following reports of disagreements between Chief Minister Rangasamy and his ruling partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Recently, senior BJP leaders, including Puducherry in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana, held discussions with Rangasamy and AINRC officials to address certain administrative issues after the Chief Minister reportedly abstained from office, citing a lack of ‘support’ from officials in implementing the government’s agenda.
Against the backdrop of these internal tensions within the AINRC-BJP alliance and recent public criticisms from independent legislators supporting the BJP, Vijay’s upcoming roadshow is poised to introduce an intriguing new element into Puducherry’s political landscape leading up to next year’s elections. A BJP leader remarked, “It will be interesting to observe his entry into Puducherry, especially since his ‘political enemy’ is not the ruling party here. He has declared us [the BJP] as his ideological adversary. We will simply observe and see what unfolds.”