As Vijay’s TVK storms Tamil Nadu house, voters explain why they chose ‘fresh batter for their dosas’

B Suman, 40, an autorickshaw driver and a devoted fan of actor “Thala” Ajith, had planned to vote for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the Tamil Nadu elections. But inside the polling booth on April 23, he remembered his daughter’s instructions: “Appa, vote for whistle!”

On Tuesday, as he waited for the traffic light to change outside the Police Headquarters along Chennai’s Marina beachfront, Suman was less certain about his choice. The day before, C Joseph Vijay, the Tamil movie superstar and chief of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam had pulled off a stunning victory in the state elections.

The Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam or Tamil Nadu Victory Federation became the largest party in the Tamil Nadu assembly, winning 108 seats in the 234-member house.

“Let’s see what happens after a few months,” Suman said with a grin, glancing at his passenger in the rearview mirror as he drove towards Vyasarpadi. “I’m an autorickshaw driver, I don’t know how to drive a car. Similarly, he’s an actor, and I don’t know how he will be as a chief minister. Maybe in a few months, Stalin will be the one laughing.”

MK Stalin, the Tamil Nadu chief minister and leader of the ruling DMK, lost his seat to a member of...

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