They voted for whistle: Vijay visits Vaiko, his domestic helps can't keep calm
A moment from the visit, captured on camera, also showed three members of Vaiko's household staff having what appeared to be a clear fan-girl moment with actor-turned-politician Vijay.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s courtesy visit to MDMK chief Vaiko’s residence in Chennai on Monday turned into an unexpected viral moment.
What was meant to be a courtesy call between the two leaders took a light-hearted turn when Vaiko’s family members introduced their household staff to the Chief Minister and casually remarked that they had voted for his party, the TVK.
“The maids at our house voted for the whistle symbol,” Vaiko is heard telling Vijay in the clip, prompting smiles and laughter during the interaction. The whistle is the TVK’s election symbol.
A moment from the visit, captured on camera, also showed three members of Vaiko’s household staff having what appeared to be a clear fan-girl moment with the actor-turned-politician.
Their excitement was unmistakable as they greeted Vijay, visibly thrilled to see him in person. One of them even touched his feet in a gesture of respect. Vijay acknowledged their enthusiasm with a warm smile and clicked a photograph with them, turning an otherwise formal visit into a light, viral exchange.
VIJAY PRAISES VAIKO
During the interaction, Vijay was also seen praising Vaiko’s oratory skills and political acumen.
“I am your biggest fan,” Vijay reportedly told Vaiko, adding that he had repeatedly watched Vaiko’s speeches before delivering his own first major political address at Vikravandi during the election campaign.
Vaiko later described Vijay’s visit as a reflection of “political magnanimity and maturity” and said the new Chief Minister appeared committed to encouraging a healthier political culture in the state.
He also welcomed Vijay’s outreach, adding that the MDMK would support efforts aimed at good governance and social justice.
VIRAL MOMENT CREATES POLITICAL BUZZ
Earlier in the day, Vijay also met MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin in Chennai, marking his first round of high-profile political engagements after taking office.
Senior journalist Malini Parthasarathy said Vijay’s courtesy visits signalled a shift towards a less polarised political discourse compared to recent years.
Meanwhile, the viral clip was quickly amplified online after Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared it, noting that such voting patterns among domestic staff and ordinary households were increasingly visible across Tamil Nadu.
He suggested that the exchange reflected TVK’s growing appeal among everyday voters beyond traditional party lines.
Parthasarathy posted on X that Vijay’s rise reflected a larger political shift, noting that it explains why Stalin, Vaiko and PMK’s S Ramadoss responded benignly to him.
“This is actually the real story of how an actor-turned-politician became an overnight sensation, swept the Tamil Nadu elections and is today Chief Minister,” she wrote.
HOW TAMIL NADU VOTED
Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s 13th Chief Minister at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium following TVK’s election victory. While the TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats, it fell 10 short of a majority in the 234-member Assembly.
The two-year-old party topped the vote-share chart in its first election, securing nearly 35 per cent of the votes. The DMK managed around 25 per cent vote share, while the AIADMK slipped further, finishing with less than 22 per cent.
However, Vijay managed to form the government after the Congress, VCK, Left Front and IUML extended support to the TVK, taking the alliance's tally to 120 seats.