Vijay follows in the footseteps of Tamil Nadu politicians with a penchant for dual contests

When actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay announced on Sunday (March 29, 2026) that he would contest his first Assembly election from two urban constituencies — Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchi East — he was following an established precedent in Tamil Nadu politics, of leaders who enter the fray simultaneously from two Assembly constituencies, though few debutants adopt such a strategy.

Mr. Vijay has not cited any specific reason for his decision and remains inaccessible to the media. His fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is making its electoral debut in the 2026 Assembly poll.

Jayalalithaa’s saga

In 1991, J. Jayalalitha (as her name was spelt then), an actor-turned-politician and political heir of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran, initially filed her nomination from Kangeyam in the then-Periyar district. This was her second Assembly election, having earlier won from Bodinayakanur in 1989 while leading a faction of the AIADMK.

On April 18, 1991, she announced that she would also contest from Bargur in Dharmapuri district. Responding to questions, Jayalalitha clarified that the move was not due to fear of defeat. “I will win from any constituency as I am sure of the people’s support. But some crank has issued a statement that he will commit suicide after filing nomination in my constituency in order to countermand the election. The second nomination is just for safety’s sake,” she said, according to The Hindu archives. The AIADMK was then allied with the Congress.

A month later, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during an election rally in Sriperumbudur. When elections were eventually held, a massive sympathy wave resulted in a landslide victory for Jayalalitha’s alliance. She won both seats and later vacated Kangeyam. However, in 1996, she was defeated in Bargur amid a strong anti-corruption wave.

In 2001, Jayalalithaa surprised many by filing nominations from four constituencies — Bargur, Bhuvanagiri, Andipatti, and Krishnagiri — despite the Representation of the People Act allowing candidates to contest from only two seats. She was also facing disqualification due to convictions in corruption cases. Her decision to file from four constituencies was widely seen as an attempt to shift public focus away from her legal troubles.

Dual contest, dual loss

In the same election, Puthiya Tamilagam leader K. Krishnasamy contested from two reserved constituencies —Ottapidaram, where he was the sitting MLA, and Valparai. He justified his decision as an effort to demonstrate that his party represented labourers and the downtrodden, particularly in plantation regions like Valparai. However, his party, which had been allotted 10 seats by the DMK, failed to win any of them, and he himself lost in both constituencies.

A year later, during byelections in three constituencies, former DMK MLA Chengai Sivam filed nominations in all three as an independent candidate. Strangely, while his papers were rejected in Acharapakkam (Reserved), the Returning Officer at Saidapet accepted it. In Vaniyambadi, the Returning Officer initially announced that Mr. Sivam’s nomination was rejected, but later said it would be re-scrutinised.

“The Chengai Sivam episode assumes significance as he filed papers in all three constituencies reportedly with the blessings of the DMK leadership with a view to disproving the AIADMK’s allegation that its leader, Jayalalithaa’s nominations were rejected in four constituencies in the general elections last May, under pressure from the then ruling DMK,” said a report in The Hindu.

Seat swap

Interestingly, in 1980, M.G. Ramachandran and fellow actor-politician S.S. Rajendran, both formerly of the DMK, filed nominations from the same two constituencies — Andipatti and Madurai West — on AIADMK tickets. Eventually, MGR withdrew from Andipatti and the SSR from Madurai West, and both went on to win their respective seats.

Earlier still, in 1977, Congress leader A.S. Ponnammal filed nominations from two reserved constituencies — Nilakottai and Palani — but eventually withdrew from both.