“Every vote for TVK is a vote for me,” says Vijay

TVK president Vijay told the gathering that he had a “surprise announcement” to make. He first declared that he would contest from the Madurai East Assembly constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu polls, before pausing and naming nine more constituencies in Madurai district.

He later clarified that his message was symbolic, emphasising that wherever TVK candidates contest across Tamil Nadu, it should be seen as if he himself were contesting, and that every vote cast for the party would be a vote for him.