Vijay as PM has emerged as a notable shift in the latest India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey, with his support appearing stronger in the Northeast than in the South. The finding comes as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay enters the national prime ministerial conversation for the first time.
The August MOTN survey places Vijay third among preferred choices for prime minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads with 48.7%, followed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at 27.1%, while Vijay receives 9.2% support.
Vijay as PM gains national attention
The regional pattern is one of the striking aspects of the survey. An analysis of the MOTN data discussed by India Today indicated that Vijay’s popularity was not concentrated mainly in Tamil Nadu. Instead, the Northeast emerged as a region where he drew notable support, even though he is not a direct political contender there.
The finding adds a new dimension to Vijay’s national profile. He launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in 2024 and has rapidly entered the national political conversation. His rise has now put him alongside established national leaders in a nationwide opinion poll.
However, the regional support should not be read as an electoral forecast. The survey measures public preference at a particular point in time. It does not show that Vijay has built an organisation or alliance capable of competing across the country.
Vijay as PM trails Modi and Rahul Gandhi
Despite his third-place showing, Vijay remains well behind the two leading choices. Modi’s 48.7% support gives him a wide lead, while Rahul Gandhi’s 27.1% keeps the Congress leader firmly in second place.
Vijay’s 9.2% places him ahead of several experienced politicians. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee received 2%, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav 1.7%, Arvind Kejriwal 1.2%, and Abhijit Dipke 1.3%, according to the survey.
The result also suggests that some voters are looking beyond established opposition leaders. The rise of Vijay therefore adds another name to an already evolving national political field.
A new entrant in the national race
The August MOTN survey was conducted by CVoter with 25,184 respondents directly surveyed between July 1 and August 25. Another 91,795 interviews from CVoter’s regular tracking over the previous six months were also used in compiling the findings.
Therefore, the figures offer a snapshot rather than a prediction of the 2029 Lok Sabha election. National politics can change sharply before then.
Vijay as PM pitch grows inside TVK
Vijay’s national ambitions have become more visible within his party. TVK leaders have recently spoken openly about his possible role beyond Tamil Nadu.
TVK minister Sarathkumar publicly projected Vijay as a future prime minister in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 18. Another senior TVK leader, Aadhav Arjuna, argued that India should eventually have a prime minister from the South and said such a leader should emerge from Tamil Nadu.
These remarks have strengthened the discussion around Vijay as PM. At the same time, they remain political projections rather than an established national campaign.
Northeast support raises a wider question
The stronger Northeast preference is notable because Vijay’s political base is in Tamil Nadu. The MOTN finding suggests that his appeal may not be limited to his home state or the southern political landscape.
Still, popularity in an opinion poll does not automatically translate into votes, seats or organisational strength. Moreover, Vijay would need to expand his political network, define his national agenda and build alliances if he seeks a larger role in 2029.
What the MOTN poll signals now
The emergence of Vijay as a serious third choice marks a new development in the national political conversation. His 9.2% national preference, combined with stronger support in the Northeast than in the South, indicates that his profile has moved beyond Tamil Nadu.
For now, Modi remains the clear national frontrunner, while Rahul Gandhi holds second place. Vijay’s entry into the top three, however, shows that voters are also considering a newer political face. Whether that interest lasts will depend on his performance in government, his party’s organisation and the alliances he builds before the 2029 election.
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