20 April,2026 06:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Thalapathy Vijay with a newly-married couple
Actor-politician Vijay has been actively campaigning ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23. The actor, who is the chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is set to make his electoral debut this year. He has been touring various parts of Tamil Nadu, greeting supporters and addressing large crowds.
Recently, Vijay surprised everyone by inviting a newly married couple onto his campaign van during a political rally.
A video of the moment has gone viral on social media. Reportedly, the couple had arrived at the rally venue in their wedding attire after getting married earlier that day. Vijay noticed them in the crowd and instructed his security team to bring them onto the van.
As soon as the bride and groom joined him, they touched his feet to seek his blessings. Vijay smiled, blessed the couple, and reportedly gave them a gift. The groom, overwhelmed with emotion, hugged the actor, who then raised their hands in a celebratory gesture before they departed. In a joyful moment, the bride was also seen whistling and acknowledging the cheering crowd.
Vijay's party TVK is expected to make the elections a three-way contest. In Tiruchirappalli East, he is contesting against DMK's Inigo S. Irudayaraj, while in Perambur, he faces DMK MLA R.D. Sekar.
Earlier, Vijay unveiled the party's election manifesto, promising Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women and support for marriages, including 8 grams of gold and a silk saree for brides from families earning below Rs 5 lakh annually.
Emphasising clean governance, Vijay stated that TVK stands for honest administration and would not mislead people with empty promises. Criticising both the ruling party and the opposition, he alleged that their manifestos offer similar schemes under different names.
Highlighting youth-focused initiatives, Vijay also promised collateral-free education loans of up to Rs 20 lakh and AI-powered coaching for competitive exams.
Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies. (ANI)
