For years, the concept of a Prime Minister rising from Tamil Nadu remained extra a political aspiration than a sensible electoral dialog. Now, barely three months into his tenure as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay has discovered himself in an area occupied by leaders who’ve spent a long time navigating Indian politics. The actor-turned-politician, who entered politics in 2024, has emerged because the third-most most popular alternative for the subsequent Prime Minister of India within the newest India At present-CVoter Temper of the Nation (MOTN) ballot.
The discovering of the opinion ballot is placing not solely due to Vijay‘s place, however due to the pace with which he has entered the nationwide political creativeness. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder secured 9.2% of the respondents’ choice for the subsequent prime minister, inserting him behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 48.7% and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at 27.1%.
It’s attention-grabbing to notice that the TVK authorities in Tamil Nadu has the support of the Congress, and Vijay’s emergence as a PM alternative may need come on the expense of Rahul Gandhi.
Vijay was forward of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee (2%), Samajwadi Celebration chief Akhilesh Yadav (1.7%), Cockroach Janta Celebration (CJP) founder and convenor Abhijit Dipke (1.3%) and Aam Aadmi Celebration’s (AAP) Nationwide Convenor Arvind Kejriwal (1.2%).
The Temper of the Nation is a bi-annual survey that is been commissioned by the India Today Group for around two decades now. The August 2026 version was performed by CVoter with a pattern of 25,184 individuals straight surveyed between July 1 and August 25. One other set of 91,795 interviews performed over the past six months as a part of CVoter’s common monitoring had been additionally used to formulate the findings of the August Temper of the Nation 2026.
Vijay’s rise within the survey doesn’t cease on the query of who ought to turn into the subsequent prime minister. When respondents had been requested which present Opposition chief is finest suited to guide the Opposition alliance, Vijay once more discovered himself close to the highest, securing 12.2% of the vote. He stood simply behind Rahul Gandhi, who led with 29%, and forward of Mamata Banerjee (8.5%), Arvind Kejriwal (7.5%) and Akhilesh Yadav (6.9%).
The findings present a glimpse into how a politician who continues to be within the first few months of his first stint in authorities has shortly expanded his political identification past Tamil Nadu.
FROM SILVER SCREEN SUPERSTAR TO POLITICAL CONTENDER
Vijay’s political journey has moved at a tempo not often seen in Indian politics.
The famous person formally entered politics with the launch of TVK in 2024. Inside two years, the occasion contested its first election, gained energy in Tamil Nadu and installed Vijay as Chief Minister in 2026. Now, earlier than his authorities has even accomplished its first 12 months, his identify is being positioned alongside established nationwide leaders in a survey measuring the nation’s political temper.
The newest MOTN figures have given an electoral dimension to the dialog that TVK leaders had already begun pushing in current weeks. TVK ministers have already pitched Vijay as a nationwide political determine and a contender for the prime minister’s publish within the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The overall elections are three years away, and translating recognition right into a nationwide electoral coalition is a vastly totally different problem. But the India At present-Cvoter survey means that the concept of Vijay because the contender for PM publish in 2029 is not confined to Tamil Nadu.
VIJAY FOR PM IN 2029 PITCH BEGAN IN TAMIL NADU
The clamour for a Vijay-led nationwide position turned more and more seen after the TVK minister started overtly speaking a few Prime Minister from Tamil Nadu.
TVK Minister for Human Sources Administration Sarathkumar made essentially the most direct pitch on August 18. Talking within the Tamil Nadu Meeting, he projected Vijay as a future Prime Minister and praised the Chief Minister’s work ethic.
“Our chief, who’s a CM in our hearts, dwelling and St George’s Fort, is the subsequent Indian PM. You’re the subsequent PM. You’re employed with out taking a look at am or pm, you’re undoubtedly the subsequent PM,” Sarath stated.
This assertion carried a bigger message and ambition, that of for a celebration with barely two years of political expertise. The ambition that TVK’s political horizon won’t finish with its 2026 victory in Tamil Nadu was made clear by Sarathkumar.
Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister and TVK chief Aadhav Arjuna in the future earlier than Sarath had made a broader argument on the India At present Roundtable Tamil Nadu. He stated India ought to ultimately have a Prime Minister from the South and argued that such a pacesetter ought to emerge from Tamil Nadu.
“I say this clearly at present, a Prime Minister should emerge from the South and the Prime Minister will emerge from the South, possibly not now. Sooner or later, he’ll signify each Indian and can deal with each Indian equally,” Arjuna stated.
The 2 statements, coming inside a day of one another, turned what might have been a person chief’s ambition right into a extra seen political narrative for the occasion.
The August MOTN survey now reveals that Vijay is being seen because the PM face not solely inside the TVK, however among the many common public, and that he has left behind a number of established politicians within the recognition race.
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