Vijay’s TVK and Tamil Nadu’s political shift: What’s driving the disruption

In a historic departure from the Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu, the State has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a rank political newbie: actor C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). At 1.15 p.m., the TVK was leading in 110 seats, with the AIADMK leading in 57 seats and the DMK bringing up the rear in 48 seats.

The performance, up until after midday, is indicative of a huge anti-incumbency factor, a sentiment in the room many psephologists and analysts failed to read. It is likely that, at the end of the day, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu will have been fundamentally altered, with a third party emerging as a significant power source.