When Vijay declared that the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election was a direct contest between his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), many dismissed it as political overreach. Yet, his campaign — unconventional, low on traditional rallies and high on digital mobilisation — has reshaped the contours of electoral politics in the state.

A campaign unlike any other

Rejecting standard campaign playbooks, Vijay avoided large-scale rallies, skipped extensive constituency tours, and largely stayed away from media interviews. Instead, he communicated directly with voters through social media and word-of-mouth amplification by his fan base.

In a strikingly novel approach, he targeted younger audiences — even children — urging them to influence family voting decisions. After polling crossed 85 per cent, he addressed them as “Vijay Mama” and thanked “Kutti, Nanba, Nanbees” for mobilising support.

Crafting a political identity

Vijay’s messaging fused elements of Dravidian ideology with Tamil nationalism, creating a hybrid political narrative distinct from established parties. His public appearances — often spontaneous and symbolic — reinforced his connection with ordinary voters, whether cycling through neighbourhoods or delivering layered speeches at film events.

Over decades, the actor had carefully shaped his public persona. From being introduced as “Ilaya Thalapathy” in the 1990s, he evolved into “Thalapathy” — a title synonymous with mass appeal — before transitioning into a political “Thalaivan” (leader) and ultimately “Muthalvar” (Chief Minister).

Cinema as a political springboard

Vijay’s films increasingly carried political undertones, reflecting social issues and governance concerns. Movies like Kaththi highlighted farmers’ distress, while Mersal stirred controversy over criticism of GST. Sarkar further amplified themes of electoral integrity and political accountability.

Earlier, his film Thalaiva, with the tagline “Born to Lead”, was widely seen as an early signal of his political ambitions.

From fan base to political machinery

The groundwork for Vijay’s political rise had been laid years earlier through the Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, whose members won local body elections in 2021 using his image, hinting at a latent political base.

Many of these grassroots organisers later transitioned into the organisational structure of TVK, providing Vijay with a ready cadre network ahead of his electoral debut.

Influences and early signals

Observers trace his political trajectory to moments such as his public support for Anna Hazare during anti-corruption protests and his adoption of signature phrases to connect with supporters, echoing styles used by leaders like J. Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi.

His visits to victims of the Thoothukudi police firing and his increasing engagement with social issues further cemented his transition from screen icon to political figure.

A carefully engineered transformation

From a child artiste debut in the 1984 film Vetri to becoming one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, Vijay’s journey reflects a long-term strategy that blended branding, mass appeal and calculated political signalling.

His rise underscores a rare transformation — where cinematic charisma has been successfully converted into political capital — positioning him as a formidable force in Tamil Nadu’s evolving political landscape.

The Indian National Congress (INC) on Wednesday dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi becoming India’s longest continuously serving elected prime minister, calling it a “self-proclaimed and dubiously invented” milestone and accusing him of weakening democratic institutions.

The sharp attack came shortly after Modi surpassed the record of Jawaharlal Nehru, crossing 4,399 days in office as an elected prime minister — the longest uninterrupted tenure by any elected PM in India’s history.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh dismissed the significance of the milestone and alleged that Modi had become a “millstone around India’s neck”.

“He may have passed a self-proclaimed and dubiously invented milestone today, but he is a millstone around India's neck, presiding as he is over the Murder of Democracy in India,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

The Congress leader argued that while the BJP was celebrating Modi’s record, the government was simultaneously attempting to erase Nehru’s contribution to nation-building.

He highlighted the period between 1947 and 1952, saying it laid the foundations of modern India through the integration of over 560 princely states, adoption of the Constitution, abolition of zamindari, implementation of reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and the creation of key scientific and technological institutions.

“The 1947-52 record of achievements of India with Nehru as PM... is now sought to be erased by Mr Modi, who has a pathological fixation on Nehru,” Ramesh alleged.

Congress also used the occasion to renew its criticism of the Modi government, claiming democratic institutions had weakened during the past decade. Ramesh alleged that the independence of the Election Commission, the integrity of electoral rolls and the country's scientific temper had come under strain, while reservations had been diluted through privatisation and other measures.

He further contrasted Modi’s political mandate with Nehru’s electoral record, noting that Nehru won successive general elections in 1952, 1957 and 1962 with decisive majorities. Modi, he argued, returned to power in 2024 only with the support of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies after the BJP fell short of a majority on its own.

Despite the Congress criticism, Modi’s milestone marks a significant moment in Indian political history. Having first taken office on 26 May, 2014, he won re-election in 2019 and secured a third consecutive term in June 2024, becoming the first prime minister since Nehru to achieve three straight electoral victories.

With PTI inputs

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday sharpened his attack on the Centre and the CBSE over alleged irregularities in the board's re-evaluation process, accusing the education system of being "financialised" and claiming students are being forced to pay for mistakes they did not make.

Sharing a video of his interaction with Class 12 students affected by the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, Rahul Gandhi alleged that students are being charged hefty fees simply to verify whether their answer sheets were evaluated correctly.

"Beware of pickpockets — today, they are sitting right inside the CBSE," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

"If your marks are incorrect due to a CBSE error, what do you get? A bill: Digital scanned copy: Rs 100 per subject. Re-totalling: Rs 100 per paper. Re-evaluation: Rs 25 per question."

The leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed a student could end up spending nearly Rs 2,000 merely to ensure the accurate evaluation of an answer sheet.

"The mistake belongs to the CBSE. The punishment falls on the student. The profit goes to the government," Rahul Gandhi said, arguing that when education is treated as a business rather than a public service, "errors are not corrected — they are multiplied."

The controversy erupted after Class 12 student Vedant alleged on social media that the Physics answer sheet uploaded by CBSE under the re-evaluation process did not belong to him. The claim went viral, prompting several other students to report similar mismatches.

In the video, Rahul Gandhi is seen speaking with Vedant and other affected students, questioning the costs involved in the re-evaluation process and the functioning of the OSM system.

"This is what we are seeing not just in NEET, in CBSE, everywhere — you have financialised the education system," Rahul Gandhi said.

"The second is over-centralisation. If there is a problem, it becomes a critical failure of the entire system. In a decentralised system, one failure doesn't bring everything down."

The Congress leader also criticised the use of mobile phones for scanning answer sheets, claiming it increased the likelihood of evaluation errors while shifting the burden of correction onto students.

The CBSE has acknowledged concerns raised by students and said cases involving alleged mismatched answer sheets were being treated on "top priority". The Board later shared the correct answer sheets with affected students.

According to government sources, experts from IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur and the Digital Infrastructure Corporation of India (DICI) are reviewing the system and working to strengthen the portal and payment gateway integration.

The issue has quickly snowballed into a political controversy, with Rahul Gandhi also targeting Coempt — the company involved in the OSM process — alleging that it had previously faced scrutiny under its former name, Globarena.

A day earlier, Rahul Gandhi had shared another video featuring the students, describing them as "brilliant, brave young Indians" who asked simple questions of the government but received "insults instead of answers".

"They deserve a bright and secure future. We will make sure they get it," he said.

With PTI inputs

Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is set to return to the streets for the first time since the Assembly election results were announced on 4 May. On Tuesday, 2 June, she is expected to stage a sit-in protest at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Dharmatala, Kolkata, alleging widespread electoral irregularities and post-poll violence following her party's defeat.

According to Trinamool Congress sources, an application seeking permission for the programme has already been submitted to Kolkata Police. However, approval has not yet been granted, raising uncertainty over whether the demonstration will be allowed to proceed. Party leaders remain hopeful that permission will be received in time.

If approved, the protest is scheduled to begin at 10 am and continue throughout the day. Mamata Banerjee is expected to join the gathering later in the afternoon, alongside senior party leaders, workers and supporters.

The Trinamool chief has repeatedly alleged that the BJP prevented the true democratic verdict from being reflected in the election results. She has claimed that polling agents were removed from counting centres, winning positions were reversed and electoral outcomes were manipulated in numerous constituencies.

Following the declaration of results, Banerjee argued that her party had not been defeated by the will of the people. She claimed that the Trinamool Congress should have won between 220 and 230 seats but that the outcome was altered in at least 150 constituencies. She has also demanded a detailed report on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used during the election.

The Assembly election dealt a severe blow to the Trinamool Congress, which secured only 80 seats. The BJP went on to form the government with a commanding majority. Mamata Banerjee herself lost the Bhabanipur constituency to BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari by 15,105 votes. Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister on 9 May. The BJP also recently won the Falta Assembly seat by a significant margin.

Banerjee has also accused the BJP government of carrying out widespread post-poll violence across the state. According to Trinamool leaders, party workers and supporters have been assaulted, party offices have been occupied or vandalised, and thousands of workers have been arrested in what they describe as politically motivated cases. The party has also alleged that BJP supporters have created an atmosphere of fear in several districts.

Speaking after the Falta election result, Banerjee used a Facebook Live broadcast to voice her concerns. She alleged that votes had been "looted" and claimed that between 2,000 and 2,500 Trinamool workers had been arrested. She further criticised the government over the removal of hawkers from railway station areas and alleged that several Trinamool party offices had been demolished.

"The law is the same for everyone. If you had truly won, you would not have resorted to such oppression,” Banerjee said.

While Mamata Banerjee prepares to lead the Kolkata protest, Trinamool's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has begun a separate outreach campaign aimed at meeting party workers affected by post-poll violence. On Saturday, he is scheduled to meet workers from the Beleghata and Sonarpur South Assembly constituencies before travelling to Birbhum on 2 June to meet others who claim to have been affected by the unrest.

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said, “The June campaign marks the beginning of a broader effort by Mamata Banerjee to rebuild and strengthen the organisation following its electoral defeat. After holding a series of meetings with party leaders at her Kalighat residence, she is now expected to travel to various districts across West Bengal in the coming weeks.”

The Trinamool Congress is currently facing pressure on multiple fronts. Since the election, several councillors from municipalities across the state have resigned, while some Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillors have stepped down from administrative positions. Internal dissatisfaction has also emerged, with some party leaders openly questioning the role of Abhishek Banerjee in the election campaign.

Adding to the party's challenges, Trinamool has not yet been officially recognised as the Opposition in the Assembly because the required documents have not been submitted. Political observers believe the leadership is facing both organisational and political difficulties as it seeks to regroup after its worst electoral performance in years.

Against this backdrop, Mamata Banerjee's planned sit-in protest is being viewed as a significant political move and the beginning of a renewed campaign to unite party workers, challenge the BJP government and re-establish the Trinamool Congress as a strong opposition force in West Bengal.

Bengali filmmaker and former Trinamool Congress legislator Raj Chakrabarty has announced his decision to step away from politics following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.

Chakrabarty, who represented the Barrackpore Assembly constituency in North 24-Parganas district from 2021 to 2026, lost the seat to Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and senior Calcutta High Court lawyer Kaustav Bagchi by a margin of more than 15,000 votes.

The director shared his decision through a social media post, stating that his journey in politics had come to an end and that he would now devote his attention entirely to filmmaking.

“Whenever I was given any responsibility in life, I tried to fulfil it with honesty and dedication,” Chakrabarty wrote, adding that he had attempted to serve people sincerely during his tenure as an elected representative.

Reflecting on his transition from cinema to politics, he said he entered public life in 2021 after receiving the opportunity to serve people through electoral politics, but that chapter had now concluded.

Chakrabarty is known for directing several successful Bengali films and popular OTT productions, including the “Proloy” series.

In his statement, he also expressed hope that the incoming BJP-led government in West Bengal would work towards the state’s development and prosperity.

“The people of Bengal have delivered their verdict and a new government will take oath on 9 May. I hope the state continues on the path of progress,” he said.

Chakrabarty is the second high-profile celebrity associated with the Trinamool Congress to publicly distance himself from active politics after the party’s landslide defeat in the Assembly elections.

Earlier, actor and three-time Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Deepak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, said he intended to scale back his political engagements and focus more on acting and film production.

Unlike Chakrabarty, however, Dev stopped short of announcing a complete withdrawal from politics.

With IANS inputs

Ahead of the much-anticipated expansion of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the ruling party, questioning how it plans to accommodate defectors, dissatisfied legislators and alliance partners within the limited vacancies available in the state cabinet.

The expansion of the government of Uttar Pradesh cabinet led by chief minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled later in the day.

In a strongly worded post on X, the Samajwadi Party chief said the public was asking whether leaders who switched over to the BJP from rival parties would now be rewarded with ministerial positions despite there being only six vacant berths in the cabinet.

“People are asking that there are only six vacancies in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet, while the number of leaders who switched sides from other parties is much higher. Will all of them be rewarded with ministerial positions?” Yadav wrote.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also questioned the criteria likely to be used in selecting ministers from among legislators belonging to the same caste or community.

“If one MLA is chosen from among several legislators belonging to a community, what will be the basis of that selection?” he asked.

Akhilesh Yadav further suggested that many turncoat leaders could feel humiliated if denied cabinet positions after joining the BJP.

“What will happen to the remaining turncoats? Will their neglect and humiliation be pacified through some compromise, or will they also realise that the BJP belongs to no one?” he remarked.

The Samajwadi Party leader claimed those left out of the expansion may struggle politically in their constituencies.

“Will those left out not feel betrayed? Will they be able to show their faces in their constituencies?” he asked.

Targeting BJP legislators waiting for ministerial roles, Yadav said several leaders within the ruling party had spent years hoping for cabinet positions.

“What about the BJP's own people who have been drying up like thorns while waiting to become ministers?” he said in a swipe at the party leadership.

He also questioned whether reshuffling or reducing portfolios of existing ministers would amount to an admission of poor governance.

“If departments are taken away from current ministers, will that not send a message that they were unsuccessful and therefore stripped of their ministries? Such ministers may lose elections without even fighting,” he said.

Yadav also took aim at the BJP’s allies, asking whether coalition partners would receive meaningful representation or continue to remain marginalised within the government.

“Will alliance partners get something more than mere assurances, or will they be ignored with the message — ‘tum the jinke sahare, wo hue na tumhare’,” he said, quoting a Hindi film song lyric to underscore his criticism.

Sharpening his attack on the BJP government’s overall performance, the SP chief said the final months before the next Assembly election would not change public opinion.

“The public is also asking what these ministers can achieve in the last nine months when the government could not deliver anything in nine years,” he alleged.

Accusing the BJP government of corruption, inflation and unemployment, Yadav claimed the ruling dispensation had burdened citizens while targeting PDA communities — a political term used by the Samajwadi Party for backwards, Dalits and minorities.

“The BJP government has only delivered corruption and atrocities, attacks on PDA, and the burden of inflation and unemployment, making life difficult for people,” he said.

With PTI inputs