The Vijay Gambit: Why Congress Is Eyeing A Tamil Superstar To Win Kerala

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 13:29 IST

Congress wants to come across as a party fighting for Vijay and hopes that the huge fan-based organisations in Kerala, which have a good ground presence, will lend it support too

Vijay is one of the most watched and popular actors in the state, almost neck-and-neck with Mohanlal and Mammootty.

What does actor and TVK chief Vijay have to do with Kerala polls? Well, he is one of the most watched and popular actors in the state, almost neck-and-neck with Mohanlal and Mammootty. Vijay possesses a massive organised fan base. His movies usually achieve openings of over Rs 2 crore. Not just this, his fan base associations like Kerala Vijay Fan Club, All Kerala Thalapathy Vijay Fans and Welfare Association are super active, very aggressive, and deeply popular with young voters and women as well.

This is exactly what the Congress is eyeing in an effort to win the elections in Kerala.

It has been deeply embarrassing for the Grand Old Party that despite some of their top leaders coming from the state, Rahul Gandhi having been an MP from there, and the powerful general secretary KC Venugopal hailing from Kerala, the party has not been able to wrest power in the last 10 years. It’s now a do-or-die battle for the Congress, which has replaced Rahul Gandhi by Priyanka Vadra as the MP from Wayanad. To add to it, Venugopal still calls the shots in the party and Shashi Tharoor—despite his blow hot, blow cold relationship with the Congress—remains a high-profile leader.

So, given this contest and the desperation to win, the Congress is pulling out all stops to ensure a win. Through Vijay, it hopes to cash in on his popularity in Kerala. Hence, Rahul Gandhi’s phone call to Vijay post the Karur stampede and a strong pitch for the release of his movie, Jana Nayagan. Sources in the Congress told News18: “Kerala is do or die for us. We are aware that DMK may be unhappy with us pitching for Vijay, but for us as a party, Kerala is more important as this is where we will be the main player unlike in Tamil Nadu."

It’s this feedback which was given to Rahul Gandhi when the party decided to bell the cat and back Vijay. It wants to come across as a party fighting for Vijay and hopes that the huge fan-based organisations in Kerala, which have a good ground presence, will lend it support too.

News18 has also learnt that the Kerala Congress cadre has been advised to work closely—wherever possible—with the fan base. A win with the Vijay factor at the cost of a miffed DMK is a price the Congress is willing to pay.

News elections The Vijay Gambit: Why Congress Is Eyeing A Tamil Superstar To Win Kerala

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