Bhubaneswar: Monday Sun will rise over the Marina Beach with blazing anxieties right in the camps of DMK, AIADMK and the new born TVK.

With EVMs readying to declare the beeps voter fed into the election machines on April 23, May 4 seems May day for the political players in this politically pivot southern state.

With only hours left for the D-day Monday, the Sun set over Marine Beach could sing the swansong for whom – DMK, AIADMK or the ‘GOAT’ Vijay’s TVK.

As the exit polls for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections hint at a fractured mandate, and a striking surge in youth turnout observed on April 23, a familiar narrative is gaining currency: can Vijay replicate — or even eclipse — the political aura once commanded by M. G. Ramachandran?

The GOAT Vijay's fandom has already gone nostalgic calling their superhero the next MGR of Tamil Nadu. Is it so or only the fan hysteria.

MGR’S POLITICAL BLOCKBUSTER

MGR remains the gold standard for actor-turned-politicians in South India. His political journey was anything but abrupt.

Joining C. N. Annadurai’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as early as 1953, MGR spent nearly two decades building grassroots credibility before a dramatic fallout with M. Karunanidhi after Annadurai’s death. Though he backed Karunanidhi’s ascent in 1971, MGR broke away in 1972 to form the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Five years later, in 1977, MGR converted cinematic charisma into electoral dominance. In its very first electoral outing, AIADMK secured around 30% vote share — a staggering debut that catapulted him to power.

VIJAY TO FILL MGR’S SHOES?

Fast forward to 2026, and Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), formed just two years ago in 2024, is staring at a potential vote share hovering around 28%, according to exit poll projections. If that number holds, Vijay may not just be a debutant — he could emerge as a decisive kingmaker in a tightly contested assembly.

Yet, history offers caution.

TAMIL ‘ANGRY YOUNG MAN’ VIJAYAKANTH’S FLOP SHOW

Another matinee idol, Vijayakanth, regarded as the ‘Angry young man’ in the TN tinsel town, entered politics with similar fanfare but failed to replicate such a high vote share in his electoral debut. Interestingly, both Vijay and Vijayakanth share a common trajectory — launching their political outfits barely a year before facing voters.

This is where the comparison with MGR begins to strain.

MGR’S VS VIJAY’S KALEIDOSCOPE

Unlike Vijay’s relatively swift political plunge, MGR’s success in 1977 was built on a foundation laid over decades within the DMK. His political grooming, organizational experience, and sustained public engagement gave depth to his electoral appeal — something a late entrant inevitably lacks.

However, 2026 presents Vijay with a uniquely fluid political landscape.

The AIADMK is currently grappling with a leadership vacuum, lacking a towering figure to consolidate its traditional base. Simultaneously, the ruling DMK faces visible anti-incumbency, particularly among farmers — a segment increasingly vocal over economic distress.

Add to this an unusually high youth turnout, and the equation becomes volatile. Vijay’s appeal among younger voters, many of whom are first-time participants, could translate into a disruptive electoral force.

Can Vijay become the next MGR?

The answer, at least for now, is more layered than the question suggests. While the vote share may flirt with MGR-like beginnings, the political depth, organisational maturity, and long-term credibility that defined MGR’s rise remain unmatched.

What Vijay does have, however, is timing — and in politics, that can be just as powerful as legacy.