AIADMK final list, Vijay’s entry set stage for high-stakes TN elections

Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Sunday heightened the political momentum in Tamil Nadu by announcing candidates for his party, even as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) released its third and final list for the April 23 Assembly elections.

Making his electoral debut, Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), said he would contest from Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappally East , identifying himself as “C Joseph Vijay.” He also announced candidates for key constituencies, fielding close aides including N Anand , Adhav Arjuna , R Arunraaj , CTR Nirmal Kumar and KA Sengkottaiyan .

Positioning TVK as a direct challenger, Vijay said the contest would be between his “people’s alliance” and the bloc led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin , which he criticised as a “patch-up.” He also outlined a youth-focused agenda, promising a drug-free Tamil Nadu and collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh for students from Class 12 to PhD.

Meanwhile, AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced 17 candidates, taking the party’s total to 167 constituencies under the NDA alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), AMMK and PMK.

The list features key Chennai contests, including Porkodi Armstrong from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (SC), Aadhi Rajaram from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni against Udhayanidhi Stalin, and P Santhana Krishnan from Kolathur against M. K. Stalin. Former ministers B Valarmathi and S Gokula Indira will contest from Thousand Lights and Anna Nagar, respectively.

Allies will also field candidates on the AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol in select seats.

Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across all 234 Assembly constituencies , with a multi-cornered contest emerging between the DMK-led alliance, AIADMK-led NDA, and Vijay’s newly launched TVK.