New Delhi- In India's diverse political landscape, two unconventional leaders have emerged from non-traditional political backgrounds: Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and Tamil actor-turned-politician 'Thalapathy' Vijay of the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Despite their vastly different origins—one from an anti-corruption movement in North India and the other from the film industry in the South—their political journeys reflect remarkable parallels in approach, rhetoric, and the challenges they face in establishing distinct ideological identities.

Even though Arvind Kejriwal and Vijay come from vastly different backgrounds—Kejriwal emerging as a common man’s leader through the anti-corruption movement and Vijay leveraging his mass appeal as a Tamil film hero—their political trajectories share striking similarities.

Both leaders invoke the legacies of B.R. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, and Periyar E.V. Ramasamy to establish credibility, yet their reluctance to take definitive ideological positions has left them vulnerable to political setbacks.

Their strategy of maintaining neutrality, particularly in the face of right-wing politics, has not only weakened their credibility but also inadvertently strengthened the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kejriwal’s AAP, born out of the anti-corruption movement, positioned itself as a transparent, citizen-centric alternative to traditional politics. However, its reluctance to commit to a clear ideological stance has alienated various voter segments.

Similarly, Vijay’s TVK, despite borrowing heavily from the Dravidian movement, has refrained from taking a strong stand on crucial ideological issues that define Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.

Both leaders frequently reference Ambedkar’s constitutionalism and Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary ideals, yet their parties’ actions often fail to reflect these principles.

While Kejriwal oscillates between populism and pragmatic alliances, Vijay appears to be cautiously navigating Tamil Nadu’s political terrain without making firm ideological commitments.

Silence on Majoritarian Politics and Missed Opportunities

AAP’s calculated silence on BJP’s communal policies has been one of its most significant criticisms. During the Delhi riots of 2020 and increasing instances of hate speech against minorities, Kejriwal’s government largely remained passive, prioritizing electoral viability over principled opposition. This inaction mirrors Vijay’s hesitation in engaging with Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian ethos more assertively.

His choice of “Tamizhaga” instead of “Tamil Nadu” in his party’s name suggests an attempt to sidestep strong Tamil nationalist sentiment, possibly to avoid alienating certain voter groups—a strategy reminiscent of AAP’s reluctance to directly confront communal issues.

The Rajendra Pal Gautam incident serves as a stark example of AAP’s ideological uncertainty. When Gautam, an AAP minister, attended a mass Dalit conversion ceremony aligning with Ambedkar’s vision, the BJP attacked the event as “anti-Hindu.”

Instead of defending its minister, AAP distanced itself, forcing Gautam to resign—exposing its unwillingness to take a firm stance on caste and religious issues. Similarly, Vijay’s invocations of Periyar remain largely symbolic.

While Periyar’s philosophy was rooted in rationalism, atheism, and anticaste politics, Vijay has yet to translate these ideas into concrete policy proposals. His failure to challenge caste oppression or Hindutva narratives makes his political rhetoric appear performative rather than substantive

Voter Alienation and Electoral Challenges

AAP initially enjoyed strong support from Delhi’s Muslim electorate, but its failure to oppose majoritarian policies led to significant voter alienation. Policies such as the exclusion of Rohingya refugee children from government schools reinforced perceptions that AAP was compromising its secular values.

This loss of trust was reflected in declining voter turnout in Muslim-majority constituencies in recent elections. Likewise, TVK risks alienating Tamil Nadu’s highly politically conscious electorate if it continues to rely on Vijay’s star power without articulating a well-defined ideological vision. The state has historically favoured leaders with strong political convictions, and a personality-driven approach without substance may not sustain long-term electoral success.

By refusing to take unambiguous stands, both AAP and TVK leave political vacuums that ultimately benefit the BJP’s larger agenda. In Delhi, AAP’s reluctance to challenge majoritarian politics has allowed the BJP to shape communal narratives with minimal resistance. In Tamil Nadu, TVK’s lack of a strong ideological foundation could weaken the state’s long-standing opposition to right-wing cultural interventions. If Vijay fails to counter the BJP’s push for a homogenized national identity, his party risks being co-opted into a larger right-wing strategy.

Lessons for the Future

For AAP to regain its lost ground, it must shed its ideological vagueness and take firm positions on communal politics and governance principles. Similarly, if TVK hopes to sustain beyond its initial buzz, it must go beyond Vijay’s celebrity appeal and develop a coherent policy framework rooted in Dravidian principles.

Symbolic references to Periyar and Ambedkar are insufficient—both Kejriwal and Vijay must actively engage in their struggles and translate their philosophies into actionable policies. Ultimately, political longevity demands more than mass appeal; it requires unwavering ideological clarity and the courage to take principled stands.

While ambiguity may offer short term electoral advantages, in the long run, it leads to disillusionment among core supporters, voter confusion, and strategic missteps. Whether AAP and TVK can evolve beyond their current limitations will determine their political futures—and their ability to counter the growing influence of right-wing politics in India.

- Meharaz is a final-year law student at the University of Delhi with a strong interest in public policy, real-time politics, and social issues.