Party support for Independent candidate, an election strategy in which Jayalalithaa succeeded and MGR failed

As Tamil Nadu gets ready to vote across 234 constituencies on April 23, 2026 there will be one constituency where electors will not find on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) the ‘Whistle’ symbol allotted to actor C. Joseph Vijay’s fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The nomination papers filed by the party’s candidate, as well as his substitute in the Edappadi constituency — where former Chief Minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is in the fray — were rejected on technical grounds during scrutiny.

Mr. Vijay has now declared support for K. Premkumar, an Independent candidate and former office-bearer of the Vijay Fans Club, who is contesting on the ‘Television’ symbol.