logo
TVK names actor Vijay CM candidate for 2026 Tamil Nadu polls; can he challenge MK Stalin?

TVK names actor Vijay CM candidate for 2026 Tamil Nadu polls; can he challenge MK Stalin?

Time of India4 days ago
NEW DELHI: Tamil film star-turned-politician Vijay has been officially declared the chief ministerial candidate of his party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), for the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the party announced on Friday.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Vijay is also set to launch a state-wide tour from September to December as part of TVK's campaign preparations, aiming to position the party as a serious challenger in the state's political arena.
TVK launched in February 2024
Vijay had formally launched TVK in February 2024, months after years of speculation about his political plunge. The move drew widespread attention in Tamil Nadu's film and political circles.
Vijay made it clear that TVK would not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, choosing instead to concentrate on building grassroots support for 2026.
'Our goal is to contest the 2026 assembly elections and lead the fundamental political change that people need,' Vijay had said, outlining the party's vision.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Prashant Kishor welcomes Bihar social media influencer Manish Kashyap into Jan Suraaj — ‘A union for change'
Prashant Kishor welcomes Bihar social media influencer Manish Kashyap into Jan Suraaj — ‘A union for change'

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

Prashant Kishor welcomes Bihar social media influencer Manish Kashyap into Jan Suraaj — ‘A union for change'

Bihar-based social media influencer Manish Kashyap officially joined Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Monday – a development that comes a week after his resignation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kashyap was accompanied by a large group of his supporters for the event. This comes months ahead of the assembly election in Bihar. The 'union' between himself and Kashyap represented more than just a partnership between two young leaders, Kishor said at the event. 'This is not just a union of two youths. In Bihar, there are millions of young people who want change, who want to be free from the rule of Lalu, Nitish, and Modi. They want to be free from corruption, illiteracy, migration, and unemployment. This is a coming together of all those who have the passion and concern to see Bihar change, who want development here just like in other states,' Kishor said. He went on to say: 'We want migration to stop, and for our children to have education and employment. This is not just the union of two individuals or two names, but the union of the aspirations of those who have long wanted change in Bihar, but in the absence of options, have voted for Lalu out of fear of Modi and for Modi or Nitish out of fear of Lalu. Now, they see a path, an alternative, a right way forward to reform Bihar'. Kashyap joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. At that time, he had spent nine months in jail after he was arrested last year for 'circulating fake videos' on 'attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu'. However, despite his significant social media following and public profile, he was not given a party ticket to contest the election. He officially announced his resignation from the BJP on June 8. In a video message he posted making the announcement, Kashyap accused the party of having 'used' him until the Delhi assembly election. This came after Kashyap was accused of assaulting and 'illegally' confining junior doctors in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) when he allegedly visited the hospital to advocate for a patient. He allegedly began recording a video inside the hospital, which escalated into the altercation, subsequently leading to him being assaulted and mistreated. He cited the incident for leaving the BJP, saying he felt abandoned by the incident after the incident.

Ex-chief justices back simultaneous polls, flag poll body's broad powers in bill
Ex-chief justices back simultaneous polls, flag poll body's broad powers in bill

India Today

timean hour ago

  • India Today

Ex-chief justices back simultaneous polls, flag poll body's broad powers in bill

Former Chief Justices of India have supported the constitutionality of the 'one nation, one election' concept but raised concerns about the provisions of the proposed bill, particularly the wide powers granted to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Their views were conveyed to a parliamentary committee examining the bill on simultaneous a written opinion submitted to the Joint Committee of Parliament, former Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud dismissed the opposition's contention that synchronising Lok Sabha and state assembly elections violates the Constitution's basic argument that staggered elections are a part of the Constitution's basic structure (or form part of the principles of federalism or democracy) does not hold. Staggered timing of elections cannot be considered as a feature of the original Constitution, let alone an immutable feature,' he said. Chandrachud, however, expressed reservations over the 'sweeping powers' the bill seeks to grant the Election Commission. He warned that such 'unbounded authority' could allow the poll body to extend or curtail the tenure of a state assembly beyond the constitutionally mandated five years under the pretext of aligning elections with the Lok Sabha. 'The Constitution must define, delineate and structure the circumstances under which the ECI may invoke this power,' he Chief Justices Ranjan Gogoi and J S Kehar are scheduled to appear before the committee on July 11 for discussions with members over the bill's provisions. Gogoi had earlier appeared before the committee in March and shared concerns about excessive powers being given to the Chief Justice U U Lalit had appeared in February and advised that simultaneous polls be introduced in a phased manner. He warned that cutting short the terms of state assemblies with significant tenure left for synchronisation could invite legal their concerns, all three former Chief Justices agreed that the idea of simultaneous elections does not breach the Constitution. Chandrachud said, 'Simultaneous elections will not infringe upon the voters' right to elect their representatives and that the bill ensures that electors remain continuously represented by their duly elected MPs or MLAs.' He further criticised arguments against the bill as being based on the belief that 'the Indian electorate is naive and can be easily manipulated.'Chandrachud also cautioned that simultaneous elections could marginalise regional and smaller parties due to the influence of better-funded national parties. 'To ensure a level playing field among political parties, the rules governing electoral campaigning, particularly those relating to campaign finance, must be strengthened,' he pointed out that while individual candidates face spending limits under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, there are no caps on party the bill's proposal that houses elected through midterm polls will only serve the remainder of the original five-year term, Chandrachud flagged concerns about the effectiveness of such short-term governments. He said their ability to implement meaningful projects would be constrained, as the Model Code of Conduct would apply six months before the next members of the parliamentary panel have echoed this concern, questioning the capacity of short-tenure governments to deliver on policy and governance.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#One Nation One Election

Nadda appoints Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma as Punjab unit's working president
Nadda appoints Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma as Punjab unit's working president

Indian Express

time4 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Nadda appoints Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma as Punjab unit's working president

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday appointed Ashwani Kumar Sharma, an MLA from Pathankot, as the working president of its state unit. BJP national president J P Nadda made the appointment. Sharma, 61, is a seasoned party leader who has served as the state BJP president twice in the past — from February 2010 to January 2013 — and again from January 2020 to July 2023. His role as state BJP chief was under scanner during his last stint as it was a time when farm laws were passed by the central government, which led to major agitation, with Punjab being the epicentre of protest. State BJP leaders were at the receiving end of the Punjab farmers. In September 2020, the SAD also parted its ways with the BJP over the now repealed farm laws. While Sharma takes over as the working president, Sunil Jakhar continues to serve as the president of the Punjab BJP. Jakhar, who had joined BJP in May 2022 after quitting the Congress, was appointed state president in July 2023, succeeding Sharma. However, after the Lok Sabha polls, Jakhar had offered to resign, but the BJP high command did not accept his resignation. Sources revealed that though Jakhar had become somewhat inactive for a few months, he continued to raise key issues concerning Punjab and was seen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on multiple occasions — including at a family event in Delhi this March. In recent months, Jakhar has once again become more active in the state's political landscape. Party insiders note that under BJP norms, a state president's term usually lasts three years, which means Jakhar's tenure is likely to continue till July 2026. Whether Sharma's appointment will lead to a change of guard remains to be seen. Interestingly, sources pointed out that the party has not traditionally had a working president in Punjab and only a state president used to be appointed. The move gains significance as it comes at a time when the party's Punjab affairs in-charge, Vijay Rupani, tragically died in a plane crash in Ahmedabad last month, leaving that key post vacant. The Pathankot MLA, a dedicated RSS member and a founder member of the BJP in Punjab, is being seen as a representative voice for the party's original cadre. A former member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — the BJP's student wing — during his college days in Pathankot, Sharma has served in multiple key roles including as general secretary of Punjab BJP from 2007 to 2010. An experienced legislator, he won the Pathankot Assembly seat in 2012 and again in 2022, losing only once in 2017 to Congress's Amit Vij. Recently, he was also handling the campaign of BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta in the Ludhiana West bypoll where the party finished third.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store