All roads lead to 2026 for Stalin, Udhaya, EPS and Vijay
The ruling DMK aims to stay for another term despite opposition challenges by capitalizing on its performance and expanding the party base through mass membership drives and grassroots support. The DMK government has been showcasing its work for the last four years to counter criticism and win public support. It is benefiting from victories in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and positive public perception.
Second on the list is Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi, who has urged party cadres to work hard to ensure the DMK-led alliance wins victory and re-forms the government in Tamil Nadu. Udhayanidhi has set an ambitious target of winning more than 200 of the 234 assembly seats in the DMK camp. He is hopeful that he will hit the magic number based on the current government’s performance and public outreach. He is likely to play a key role in the DMK’s campaign strategy to counter political rivals, including Vijay. He wants to create a ‘Dravidian model 2.0 regime’ under the leadership of his father and Prime Minister MK Stalin.
The DMK is likely to play a two-way game: keeping Stalin as the senior statesman, with Udhayanidhi defending Stalin against the politics of Vijay Beyond, a major personal expectation in 2026 regarding his ongoing legal case. Next year, the Supreme Court will hear Udhayanidhi’s plea to consolidate all FIRs and complaints filed in various states regarding his controversial ‘Abolish Sanatan Dharma’ remarks and transfer them to a single place.
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary and Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is in full campaign mode, trying to consolidate his party’s position. While fending off domestic and international political rivals, it is also trying to build a strong alliance that can challenge the DMK in the upcoming 2026 elections. The seat-sharing discussions for the 2026 elections began with Union minister Piyush Goyal meeting Palaniswami. He stated that all like-minded parties are invited to join the AIADMK-led alliance.
Finally, TVK leader Vijay, who actively organizes public rallies and meetings across the state, positions TVK as a “pure force” and the main alternative to the ruling DMK, which he calls an “evil force” and “political enemy”. Although Vijay has stated that he will contest all 234 seats on his own, focusing on social justice, secularism and people’s welfare, political equations may change. The highly anticipated movie Jana Nayagan The film, which is expected to be his last film as an actor, is planned to be released in January. Vijay has a challenging political journey ahead as he not only converts his huge fan base into electoral success but also challenges the Dravidian political landscape in Tamil Nadu. As the election year approaches, where an exciting vote struggle is expected, voters are getting ready to cast their votes.
