The Bharatiya Janata Party has, it’s said, offered the actor-politician Vijay the post of Deputy Chief Minister, and about eighty seats for his party – Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam – as discussions about an alliance grow before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This important move brings up the main question: will TVK join the NDA and change how the 2026 election will go?
What the offer, as reported, is
Those following the talks say the BJP has put forward the idea that Vijay would be Deputy Chief Minister if the alliance wins, and TVK would compete in roughly eighty of Tamil Nadu’s 234 seats. That level of seat-sharing would make TVK a key part of any NDA group in the state.
Talks aren’t finished. Vijay is said to want to be Chief Minister, which is still the main problem. The BJP, however, has said that the NDA’s power does not rest on one party, showing it has some control, while still keeping the chance for an agreement open.
A number of ways to get to Vijay have been used, including contact from a deputy chief minister from another state, sources report. This continued effort shows how seriously the BJP sees TVK’s possible effect.
Why the BJP is trying to get TVK and Vijay on its side
The BJP’s interest comes from plain numbers in elections. Vijay has a very large group of fans all over Tamil Nadu, and people who work on campaigns think even a small shift of his supporters could be key in tight races. As one person working on campaigns put it, a two percent change can turn the result in many voting areas.
A recent study showed TVK’s share of the vote at almost 13.6 percent, placing the party as a growing third power after the DMK and AIADMK. For the BJP – which has often had trouble turning national success into wins in Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu – that share is a good chance.
The BJP also sees a partner led by a well-known person as a way to get energy into urban young people, people who doubt hard Hindutva, and first-time voters who like politics based on people. A coalition with TVK could widen the NDA’s local story beyond its usual message.
What people in TVK think and are doubtful about
Despite how good the offer is, not all of Vijay’s advisers are sure. They fear joining a national alliance so soon could weaken TVK’s own brand, which was built as a new choice to the state’s long-standing groups. Keeping that image is still a main goal.
TVK leaders have told members to ignore rumors and stay on issues. Deputy general secretary C T R Nirmal Kumar asked members not to be led by what was being said in the media and on social media. The message: stay calm while talks go on.
That care makes sense. New parties face a test of trust in their first major election. Joining early can give help, but it can also make it harder to claim to be on the outside if voters see a quick acceptance of established powers.
How a BJP-TVK deal could change the numbers of seats
Eighty seats is about one third of the Assembly. If agreed, TVK would be the most important part of any NDA list, affecting what the campaign talks about, who the people running are, and how resources are given out. The BJP would still have to balance its own hopes and those of smaller partners.
Tamil Nadu often has close races where small differences in votes decide the results. A joined BJP-TVK effort could turn three-way races into one-on-one fights in some areas, especially in towns and partly-town areas where star power and hard work at the voting stations can come together.
What is said would be important. TVK could put forward good government and being against corruption, while the BJP stresses growth and national plans. A message that goes with the other, made local to district problems, could have a larger effect over the areas where they are fighting if the work on the ground is done together.
Politics and what people see about the CBI requests
Also, Vijay flew to Delhi after getting a third request from the Central Bureau of Investigation about the Karur stampede of September 27, 2025, in which 41 people died. Both TVK and the BJP have said there is no link between the investigation and talks about an alliance.
Reports also noted a small event at the airport in Chennai, where a pair of scissors was found during a normal check of bags. People in charge got rid of the item, and the trip went on without a break. Though not important in itself, everything now has political meaning in a hot time before the election.
TVK has also pushed public efforts, including demands for a study of caste, to show it cares about issues. Keeping those efforts clear helps the party keep its own identity while alliance chances are talked about.
What is next for alliance talks
The main things to watch are now clear. First, the top-job question: does TVK accept the Deputy Chief Minister way, or hold out for a clear Chief Minister promise? Second, seat numbers: how would eighty seats be put on a map of areas to get the most gains?
Third, how the campaign is done: joint meetings, a shared plan, and who is in charge of speaking against the DMK-led group will all shape what voters think. Fourth, what the AIADMK does and stronger answers from the group in power.
Time is short. With the election dates coming, both groups must weigh how things are going against the risks. If BJP and TVK make a deal, it could turn around how groups have usually been. If talks fail, TVK going on its own could still split votes and change the results at the voting area level.
In short: the reported offer of the Deputy Chief Minister post and eighty seats shows how much the BJP values Vijay’s appeal. Whether TVK joins the NDA or goes alone, the party has already become a key thing in Tamil Nadu’s 2026 race.
