Shobhaa De backs Vijay's political debut, draws parallels with Jayalalithaa's rise
Synopsis
Shobhaa De's defence of Vijay's political inexperience reveals a deeper truth about Tamil Nadu: the state has long weaponised cinema as a pathway to power. With TVK falling 10 seats short of majority and Congress dangling conditional support, Vijay's real test isn't winning Gen-Z votes — it's managing coalition partners and delivering on governance. Whether he becomes the next Jayalalithaa or a cautionary tale depends on what happens after the cheering stops.
Key Takeaways
Shobhaa De defended Vijay's political entry, calling him a novice who won on Gen-Z support .
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single-largest party with 108 of 234 seats , falling short of 118-seat majority .
De drew parallels with former Chief Minister J.
Jayalalithaa , who also entered politics without prior experience.
Congress has announced conditional support; TVK is negotiating with CPI , CPI(M) , and VCK for coalition backing.
Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of film stars transitioning to political power, dating back decades.
Author-columnist Shobhaa De has defended actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay's entry into Tamil Nadu politics, arguing that despite his political inexperience, he deserves an opportunity to demonstrate his governance capabilities. The assessment comes as Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Assembly with 108 seats, falling short of the 118-seat majority threshold.
De's case for giving Vijay a chance
Speaking to IANS, De acknowledged that Vijay remains politically untested. "He's a novice. He's won on a young vote… the Gen-Z vote," she said. "He appealed to them. He has not so far proved himself as a politically astute person, but he has won." She argued that democratic principles demand a fair evaluation period before judgement. "In a democracy, everyone is given that chance. He has got that chance. Now, we shouldn't judge him because of his lack of experience. Let's give him a chance, let's see what he has to offer," De added.
Tamil Nadu's long history of stars in power
De contextualised Vijay's rise within Tamil Nadu's distinctive political tradition, where cinema and governance have long been intertwined. "The cult of movie stars, gathering great followings in Tamil Nadu, is not new…. Most of their former iconic Chief Ministers started their careers as popular stars," she noted. The state's political landscape has historically been shaped by charismatic film personalities who leveraged mass appeal into electoral victories.
The Jayalalithaa precedent
De drew a direct parallel to former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who transitioned from cinema to politics with minimal prior political experience. "Jayalalithaa didn't come in with a lot of political experience either, and she turned out to be one of the most powerful Chief Ministers of the state," De observed. Jayalalithaa's tenure demonstrated that film stardom and grassroots connect could compensate for institutional inexperience, provided the individual possessed administrative acumen and political will.
Coalition dynamics in Tamil Nadu
As TVK navigates government formation, political arithmetic has become critical. The Congress, which secured five seats, has announced conditional support for Vijay's administration, while TVK has simultaneously reached out to CPI, CPI(M), and VCK for additional backing. This coalition-building phase will test Vijay's political negotiation skills and ability to manage diverse ideological partners — a challenge that extends beyond electoral appeal into the realm of governance.
What lies ahead
The coming months will determine whether Vijay's Gen-Z mandate translates into effective administration or becomes another instance of cinema-to-politics transition that falters under institutional pressure. His handling of coalition partners, policy articulation, and ground-level governance will ultimately validate or undermine De's optimism.
Point of View
But Gen-Z votes don't negotiate coalition terms or manage bureaucratic resistance. Tamil Nadu's cinema-to-politics pipeline has produced both giants and disasters. Vijay's fall 10 seats short of majority exposes a hard truth — charisma wins elections; governance requires something else entirely.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shobhaa De say about Vijay's political entry?
Shobhaa De called Vijay a political novice who won on Gen-Z support but deserves a fair chance to prove himself. She argued that in a democracy, everyone should be given an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities before being judged.
How many seats did TVK win in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections?
Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats out of 234, falling 10 seats short of the 118-seat majority threshold needed to form government independently.
Which party is supporting Vijay for government formation?
The Congress, which won five seats, has announced conditional support for Vijay's TVK. Additionally, TVK is negotiating with CPI, CPI(M), and VCK for additional backing to reach the majority mark.
How did Shobhaa De compare Vijay to Jayalalithaa?
De pointed out that former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa also entered politics with minimal prior experience but went on to become one of Tamil Nadu's most powerful leaders, suggesting that inexperience alone should not disqualify Vijay from a fair evaluation.
Is Tamil Nadu's tradition of film stars in politics unique?
According to De, Tamil Nadu has a long-established pattern of cinema personalities entering politics and rising to prominent positions. Most of the state's iconic Chief Ministers began their careers as popular film stars before transitioning to governance.
