Damu's election affidavit reveals he has studied till class 8, lists his profession as 'auto consulting business' and declares total assets of Rs 28.9 lakh with zero liabilities. Photo: ECI
Auto driver to MLA: How Vijay Damu’s win in TN polls is a victory of TVK’s ‘common man politics’
KV Vijay Damu, a former auto driver with no political pedigree or financial muscle, defeated two political heavyweights — veteran AIADMK leader and former state minister D Jayakumar and DMK’s Dr A Subair Khan, son of former minister Rahman Khan. The win underscores the rejection of dynastic and money-driven politics in Tamil Nadu.
In one of the most inspiring underdog stories of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, KV Vijay Damu, a former auto driver with no political pedigree or financial muscle, has emerged victorious from Chennai’s Royapuram constituency on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket. His triumph works as a powerful symbol of actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay’s promise to give common citizens political power.
Damu defeated two political heavyweights — veteran All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and former state minister D Jayakumar and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK’s) Dr A Subair Khan, son of former minister Rahman Khan. While Khan, first runner-up lost by a margin of 14,249 votes, Jayakumar who was in third place, was behind Damu by 40,671 votes.
Also read: Understanding the Vijay phenomenon in Tamil Nadu politics
The win underscores the massive wave of support for the TVK and the rejection of dynastic and money-driven politics in Tamil Nadu.
As of 5.30 pm on Monday (April 4), the counting of votes by the Election Commission of India (ECI), showed TVK having won, or leading in, 206 of 234 assembly seats in the state, far ahead of rivals AIADMK (45 seats) and DMK (60 seats).
Damu the giants slayer
By his own declaration, Damu comes from a lower-middle-class family with no political connections. His election affidavit reveals a modest profile — he has studied till class 8, lists his profession as “auto consulting business” and declares total assets of Rs 28.9 lakh with zero liabilities. Despite these humble credentials, he managed to topple established politicians backed by decades of influence, cadre networks and resources.
Supporters show up photos of TVK chief Vijay. Photo: PTI
Political analysts describe his victory as a direct outcome of TVK chief Vijay’s appeal among the common man. “Vijay has given a new life to people like us,” a supporter told The Federal. “A former auto driver becoming an MLA shows that ordinary citizens can now dream big in Tamil Nadu politics.”
The 'Vijay wave'
Royapuram is not an isolated story. In Madurai Central, TVK candidate Madhar Badhurudeen (alias VNS Mustafa) defeated DMK heavyweight Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) with a margin of nearly 20,000 votes.
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Actor Vijay, who announced the launch of TVK as a “force against corruption, nepotism, and family politics”, has repeatedly emphasised that the party was giving tickets to candidates from modest backgrounds. The success of candidates like Damu and Badhurudeen validates this approach. In a state long dominated by Dravidian majors with deep-rooted family networks, these victories represent a seismic shift, proving that sincerity, local connection, and the ‘Vijay wave’ can overcome money power and the might of political dynasties.
