India (Commonwealth Union)_ For much of India’s political history, the prospect of a prime minister emerging from Tamil Nadu was more an ambition than a realistic national possibility. That conversation has now taken an unexpected turn. C Joseph Vijay, the actor who entered politics only in 2024, has emerged as one of the three most preferred choices for the country’s next prime minister, according to the latest India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey (MOTN). The result is notable because Vijay is still a newcomer to electoral politics. Yet, in the August 2026 survey, he received 9.2% support when respondents were asked who they would prefer as the next prime minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained far ahead with 48.7%, followed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at 27.1%.
Vijay’s position is particularly significant because he has moved ahead of several experienced national and regional leaders. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received 2%, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav 1.7%, while Arvind Kejriwal received 1.2%. Vijay’s rise also raises some interesting political questions, given that the Congress supports his government in Tamil Nadu: Could Rahul Gandhi and Vijay join hands for the 2029 PM race? Can their alliance win the PM race? Could Vijay’s growing popularity as a PM choice compete with Rahul Gandhi, as it could potentially draw some support that might otherwise have gone to Rahul Gandhi? The survey was conducted as part of the India Today Group’s long-running biannual Mood of the Nation exercise. CVoter directly interviewed 25,184 people between July 1 and August 25. The findings also incorporated 91,795 interviews conducted during the previous six months through CVoter’s regular tracking system.
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Vijay’s standing is not limited to the Prime Minister question. He also performed strongly when respondents were asked which opposition leader would be best suited to head an alliance. Rahul Gandhi led with 29%, but Vijay followed with 12.2%, ahead of Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Akhilesh Yadav. The speed of his political rise is perhaps the most striking part of the story. Vijay launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in 2024. Within two years, the party contested an election, came to power in Tamil Nadu and made Vijay Chief Minister. Now, before his government has completed its first year, his name is being discussed for the prime minister race alongside politicians who have spent decades building national networks.
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TVK leaders have also been actively expanding this narrative. Accordingly, Minister Sarathkumar openly described Vijay as a future prime minister during an assembly speech. A day earlier, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna had argued at the India Today Roundtable Tamil Nadu that India should eventually have a prime minister from the South, preferably from Tamil Nadu. Those statements showed that the party’s ambitions extend beyond the state. The latest MOTN findings suggest that this is no longer merely an internal TVK message. A section of the wider electorate is also beginning to see Vijay as a possible national leader.
However, a strong survey showing is not the same as a national electoral coalition. The 2029 Lok Sabha election is still three years away, and Vijay faces the much harder task of converting his popularity in Tamil Nadu into support across India. But for now, his rapid rise has changed the political conversation. A politician who entered the field just two years ago is already being weighed against India’s most established leaders. But whether that momentum can take him from Chennai to the national stage remains uncertain. But the idea of Vijay as a potential prime minister is now gaining attention beyond Tamil Nadu.
