Vijay releases TVK manifesto for April 23 Tamil Nadu polls; Paes backs Modi, AIADMK flags delimitation

Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Wednesday released his party’s election manifesto ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23. Vijay, who is contesting from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East, launched the document as parties sharpened their pitches in the final stretch before voting.

On the campaign trail for TVK’s rivals, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader D K Shivakumar predicted a two-thirds majority for the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in the 234-seat Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Campaigning in Coimbatore, he credited the ruling alliance with welfare initiatives and said rising prices and pressure on household incomes were due to central government policies, asserting the bloc would register a comfortable win under Chief Minister M K Stalin’s leadership.

The AIADMK, meanwhile, used an all-party meeting on delimitation convened by the DMK to reiterate that Tamil Nadu’s Lok Sabha representation should remain at 7.2 percent.

Party national spokesperson Kovai Sathyan accused the ruling party of “concealing the truth” and, in a post on X, argued that if the total number of MPs were increased to 850, Tamil Nadu would receive 61 seats as per a suggestion he attributed to @EPSTamilNadu, asking why the DMK did not disclose this.

In neighbouring West Bengal, former tennis player and BJP leader Leander Paes publicly backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the state’s 2026 Assembly elections. Paes said he would accept any role assigned to him, adding that his discussion with the Prime Minister focused on youth and sports, and the contribution of athletics to nation-building.

He said he entered politics despite widespread reluctance, citing his father’s emphasis on empowering children through sports and education, and pledged to work towards strengthening the country under Modi’s leadership.

A separate flashpoint emerged in Kolkata, where Bengali nationalist organisation Bangla Pokkho alleged that the Election Commission had not permitted a procession to mark Bengali New Year, calling the decision a “grave assault” on the community’s pride and culture.

The group announced it would hold an evening rally on April 15 in the city’s southern areas despite the denial. An Election Commission official said the permission was withheld in consultation with Kolkata Police and noted that, with the model code of conduct in force, any unauthorised gathering would be deemed illegal.

West Bengal’s 294-member Assembly will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting on May 4. With manifestos rolling out, leaders trading projections, and authorities enforcing the model code, election season in southern and eastern India is gathering momentum ahead of the late-April voting dates.