Chennai, May 13
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder C. Joseph Vijay has emerged as the most popular political leader in the State, according to a statewide opinion poll conducted by the Centre for Policy and Development Studies (CPDS), Chennai.
The survey, conducted across all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu with a sample size of 40,000 respondents, indicates that Vijay currently enjoys a significant public approval advantage over his principal political rivals, including DMK leader M.K. Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
According to the poll findings, Vijay registered an approval rating of 64 per cent, far ahead of Stalin’s 23 per cent and Palaniswami’s 12 per cent. The survey also found that 61 per cent of respondents preferred Vijay as the most trusted political leader in Tamil Nadu at present.
The opinion poll suggests that Vijay’s popularity has rapidly expanded beyond his traditional fan base and cinema appeal, evolving into a broader political support network cutting across urban, semi-urban and rural regions of the State.
The survey observed particularly high support for Vijay in Chennai, Coimbatore, Chengalpattu, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur and Tirunelveli districts. Respondents cited welfare-oriented governance, anti-corruption promises, youth engagement and his communication style as the major reasons behind the growing support for the TVK government.
The poll further indicated that Vijay enjoys overwhelming backing among first-time voters and younger demographics between 18 and 35 years. Many respondents viewed him as a “fresh alternative” to the traditional Dravidian political structure that has dominated Tamil Nadu politics for decades.
On governance issues, Vijay reportedly scored strongly in sectors such as welfare schemes, education, healthcare and employment generation. Nearly 59 per cent of respondents expressed confidence in the TVK government’s ability to create jobs and improve economic opportunities in the State.
Political observers believe the survey reflects the strong “honeymoon phase” currently enjoyed by the newly formed TVK government following its electoral breakthrough in the 2026 Assembly elections.
The CPDS survey was conducted using stratified random sampling methods and included respondents from different social, economic and age backgrounds. The margin of error was estimated at ±2.5 per cent.
The report concluded that Vijay presently holds a clear political advantage in Tamil Nadu and has emerged as the central figure in the State’s rapidly changing political landscape.
