As actor Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) looks to form its government in Tamil Nadu, the State’s industrial ecosystem of Tamil Nadu is curious about the new party’s priorities, but not too worried about a shake up in the well-oiled system.
Industrialists businessline spoke to said that a reading of the TVK manifesto suggests jobs for youth and industrial development remains a priority and hence they are optimistic of policy continuity. However, officials note that some industrialists have been trying to understand more about the fairly inexperienced Cabinet and the party’s stance on the new Parandur airport among other things.
“Bureaucrats play a solid role in Tamil Nadu, so a change of government has been fairly smooth in the past. With bodies like Guidance Tamil Nadu, it should be business as usual for us,” a manufacturing industry executive said. “Their [TVK’s] manifesto indicates jobs for youth and development so now we have to see if they have any limitations in acting up the promises,” the person added.
Another executive said that they are used to regime changes in Tamil Nadu and many of the key industrial policies are often continued by the new government. “The difference this time is that we do not know much about the new party and the elected MLAs who are mostly first timers. But, we do see some senior people from other parties part of the core group,” the person said.
Bureaucrats noted that TVK’s stance on Parandur has been part of conversations with companies, since the results, and added that there is curiosity around the party’s stance on the new airport project and other such infrastructure projects.
TVK on Parandur
TVK, at its first political meeting in Vikravandi in 2024, had passed a resolution to oppose the Parandur airport project. Vijay had then said that he was not against development but only against the location of Parandur. Vijay had also met the farmers who were protesting against the project.
Garment exporters in the textile town of Tiruppur have a lot of expectations from the TVK government, especially in developing the infrastructure. They believe there will now be better coordination between the State and the Centre, unlike the previous regime.
Same-same but different
“The results are a reflection of a well functioning democracy, but with the new party also having similar set of welfare measures and freebies in their manifesto as the other parties, how they maintain the state’s finances is the key question,” another industry executive noted.
As per an analysis by Emkay Global released on Tuesday, heavy populist promises of the TVK, if translated to actual spending, will be worth about 2.2 per cent of GDP of extra spending for the State.
As for the State economy, the party, as per its manifesto, goes a step beyond the incumbent DMK’s $1-trillion economy vision by 2030, by pushing the goal to a $1.5-trillion economy by 2036. It has also promised support for MSMEs and quick business licences for investors.
Interestingly, it has also proposed the use of Artificial Intelligence for administrative work and even floated the idea of a dedicated AI ministry.
(With inputs from TE Raja Simhan)
Published on May 5, 2026