From the margins to being counted as a contender: Emergence of Vijay's TVK as an electoral force

Chennai, April 25 -- Initially dismissed as nothing more than a crowd of fans and derided disdainfully as apolitical 'Tharkkuri' (illiterate), the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam of actor Vijay has emerged from the margins to be counted as a strong contender destined to a play a larger role in the Dravidian heartland.

In the absence of a visible wave for or against the incumbent government, the presence of the TVK in the fray seems to have put an end to the Dravidian duopoly in Tamil Nadu politics.

Analysts are on the same page on this though the difference is on how much damage the Vijay factor would cause to both the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK. But the overwhelming opinion is that the TVK had largely poached the AIADMK vote base.

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