CHENNAI: Prashant Kishor, a prominent former election strategist and leader of his recently floated political party Jan Suraaj in Bihar, met actor and TVK leader Vijay on Monday in Chennai and assured his “support and guidance” for the party’s victory in the 2026 assembly election. Kishor will take on the role of 'special adviser' to TVK.
Kishor is known for his successful campaign for M K Stalin's DMK in the 2021 assembly election. The DMK won the election after a 10-year hiatus.
Kishor held a three-hour-long meeting with Vijay in Chennai. “The meeting was very cordial. Kishor shared his experience in strategy. The talks veered around the current political scenario in Tamil Nadu and nationally. Kishor will be a "special adviser" to the TVK, though no formal technical agreements will be made,” said a source privy to the developments.
The meeting took place after the TVK leadership evinced interest in having a talk with Kishor, who was embraced by the DMK’s first family in 2021. The actor is looking forward to the periodical meetings with Kishor in the coming months as his party is keen on positioning itself against the DMK and the BJP and setting the stage for an intense contest in 2026.
Kishor currently steers Jan Suraaj, the political outfit, and continues to have his primary focus on politics in Bihar. TVK sources said the noted strategist would act as a special advisor to TVK akin to his advisory role for TDP, which saw significant success in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh assembly election. Within TVK, Kishor will guide the internal teams, including general secretary Aadhav Arjuna (election campaign management) and Vijay’s strategist Jhon Arokiasamy.
Interestingly, Arjuna, the founder of Voice of Commons and a political strategist, had worked closely with Kishor when the latter was roped in by DMK for the 2021 assembly election. “Previous discussions between Kishor and Vijay took place a few years ago. These earlier plans were shelved, with Vijay postponing his political entry and Kishor shifting his focus to establishing Jan Suraaj,” a TVK party source said. Vijay’s TVK maintains that the actor would be the chief ministerial candidate for the 2026 election and intends to create a strong alliance to challenge DMK.
The actor projects social reformer ‘Periyar’ E V Ramasamy, architect of the Indian constitution B R Ambedkar, late chief minister K Kamaraj, and freedom fighters Rani Velu Nachiyar and Anjalai Ammal as his ideologues. His upcoming film, Jana Nayagan, a political action movie, is slated to be his last after a three-decade-long film career. He is expected to take a state-wide tour after the release and began the groundwork by appointing district functionaries.