Thalapathy Vijay
Actor and Party Leader
Tamil cinema superstar turned founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, whose 2026 election manifesto promises to make Tamil Nadu the “AI capital of India” with a dedicated ministry, an AI university and an AI city.
In his words
India’s first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, an AI University and AI City to power Tamil Nadu as the AI Capital of India.
Biography
Vijay (born 1974), known to fans as “Thalapathy” (commander), is one of Tamil cinema’s biggest box-office draws. In 2024 he formally launched a political party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and set his sights on the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
A manifesto built around AI
TVK’s debut manifesto placed artificial intelligence at the centre of its economic pitch. Alongside familiar welfare promises, Vijay’s party pledged what it billed as India’s first dedicated Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, plus an AI University and an “AI City,” aiming to brand Tamil Nadu as the country’s AI hub within a projected ₹1.5-trillion economy by 2036. The manifesto also promised AI-powered free coaching for competitive exams.
The bet is unusual for an Indian regional party: rather than treat AI as a threat to jobs, Vijay is campaigning on it as an industrial-policy opportunity and a marker of youthful, future-facing governance. Whether the promises survive contact with a state budget is, as with any manifesto, an open question.
Where they stand in the war
Who backs them up
Sources & further reading
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