TVK’s R. Sabarinathan just pulled off something pretty remarkable—he’s now the MLA from Virugambakkam, and what really makes this story stand out is that he’s the son of actor Vijay’s longtime driver. Not a political dynasty, not even a second-generation leader, just a regular guy making his first attempt, and winning big.

This election was TVK’s first try at the assembly, and Sabarinathan’s win has everyone talking. He survived 24 intense rounds of counting, with the numbers finally tipping in his favor. All those hours, watching the votes pile up, must’ve felt endless. His father has been driving Vijay around for years, and now his son’s making his own mark—inside the assembly, not behind the wheel.

Vijay, known for calling out political dynasties, promised to give real party workers a chance. Sabarinathan’s result seems like proof he meant it. Early in the count, Sabarinathan pulled ahead and just never let up. By the end, Election Commission numbers showed he had 76,092 votes. That put him ahead of DMK’s Prabhakara Raja AMV by a huge 27,086 votes. The AIADMK’s VN Ravi? He was way behind, with 38,767.

Chennai lit up with celebrations—TVK supporters poured into the streets, hugging, cheering, beating drums. “This isn’t just a win for a party; it’s a win for the man on the street,” one TVK volunteer shouted outside the counting hall.

When the final numbers came in, cameras caught Sabarinathan crying, totally overwhelmed. The clip’s all over social media now. Party leaders hugged him, and reporters say Vijay himself personally picked Sabarinathan to show that regular folks belong in the assembly, not just political insiders.

TVK’s approach—picking candidates with humble backgrounds—seems to be working. Young voters and the middle class, tired of the same old faces, are responding. The Virugambakkam result is the clearest sign TVK is shaking things up in Tamil Nadu.

Now, Sabarinathan gets ready to take his oath with the other new MLAs later this month. From the son of a driver to assembly member—his story already has people calling it the “fairytale” of the 2026 elections.