TVK President Vijay receives his certificate from the Returning Officer for Perambur Constituency, at Loyola College on Monday.
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RAGU R

As actor-politician C Joseph Vijay’s sweeping popularity takes TVK to the cusp of power in Tamil Nadu, questions remain on the party’s vision for the State. Based on the TVK’s manifesto, Vijay and his party seem inclined to continue the welfare model that brought much success to his predecessors. Like the DMK and AIADMK, the party had promised direct benefit schemes for women, including a ₹2,500 monthly transfer to the women heads of households, alongside six free LPG cylinders annually and marriage assistance that includes gold and sarees. 

Alongside women and youth, among the party’s strongest bases, the party has promised a host of schemes, including ₹4,000 per month for unemployed graduates and ₹2,500 to diploma holders, alongside interest-free loans of up to ₹25 lakh for both higher education and honest entrepreneurial activities.

The two-year-old party has also promised resolutions to critical issues in the State that had often posed challenges to its Dravidian predecessors.

For instance, on the Cauvery dispute, Vijay, who had been vocal about the issue even prior to his political fray, has accused the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu and the Central government of failing to protect the farmers interest in the Cauvery delta. He has said the TVK will address the challenges around Cauvery, focusing on “practically possible” solutions.

On the controversial three-language policy under NEP, Vijay holds the same stance as DMK, and has explicitly rejected the Central government’s proposals, arguing that it is an attempt to force Hindi. He has maintained that while he is not against any language by itself, he will not allow “thrusting” one language over other.

He also condemned the Central Government’s recent move to bring in a Delimitation Bill in Parliament, calling it an infringement on State rights.

He has expressed solidarity with Eelam Tamils, and has accused the DMK government of remaining silent on the problems faced by Eelam Tamils and fishermen. He has formally called for an independent referendum among Sri Lankan Tamils to determine their political future.

On governance, TVK’s pitch diverged from the traditional parties with some unusual policies like allowing people to decide 10 per cent of the State’s budget allocation and dedicating one day of the Assembly sessions for hearing public appeals.

Interestingly, it has also proposed the use of Artificial Intelligence for administrative work and even floated the idea of a dedicated AI ministry. 

Importantly, political observers credit TVK’s success to its emphasis on working-class inclusion, including offering a seat to an auto driver Vijay Dhamu, who also won. This is in sharp contrast to the lack of professionals and first-time candidates in DMK and AIADMK.

drug menace

TVK also ran a focused campaign against the drug menace and violence against women, both of which it attributed to the DMK rule. It has floated dedicated task forces and stricter enforcement mechanisms to tackle the situation.

As for the economy, the party has one upped the incumbent DMK’s $1-trillion economy vision by 2030, by pushing the goals to a $1.5-trillion economy by 2036, promising support for MSMEs and quick business licences for investors.

A defining feature of the incumbent DMK regime was its persistent friction with the BJP-led Central Government. While Vijay has repeatedly called the BJP his “ideological enemy,” it looks to be seen on how he handles relations with New Delhi. 

Published on May 4, 2026

Oil rose on signs of heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran attacked a tanker with drones and the US said it’s working to evacuate stranded ships through the vital waterway.  

Brent spiked more than 5 per cent to trade above $114 a barrel, before paring some of the gain as prices fluctuated sharply. Futures reached intra-day highs following Iranian media reports claiming two missiles hit an American patrol boat, which the US Central Command denied.

The escalation comes after President Donald Trump said the US would guide vessels out of Hormuz, framing the plan as a “humanitarian gesture.” Iran said US forces would be attacked if they entered the waterway and Iran’s semi-official news agency later said Tehran “redefined the control zone” in the strait, effectively setting out a wider area to regulate shipping in the region.

The US move was followed by increased tensions. A unit of the UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. said its oil tanker Barakah, which wasn’t carrying any cargo, was targeted by two Iranian drones off the coast of Oman. On Sunday, there was a report of a bulk carrier being attacked by small boats, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

Meanwhile, US Central Command said that two American-flagged merchant vessels successfully navigated the strait, adding that the military is actively working to restore commercial flow. There were five US-flagged commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf at the end of February, but none of them have turned on their Automatic Identification System signal for weeks.

The renewed risks come after weeks of stalemate and failed attempts to reach a peace deal in the conflict, with Tehran keeping a tight grip over Hormuz and the US enforcing a blockade of Iran’s ports to choke its oil exports.

The deadlock threatens to prolong the oil market’s worst-ever supply disruption, as traffic remains at a near standstill and attacks on commercial vessels continue.

“The market is clearly nervous that the events today further weaken the prospect of a reopening of the strait,” said Jens Naervig Pedersen, a strategist at Danske Bank AS.

Hormuz was the chokepoint for about a fifth of the world’s oil shipments before the war erupted with US-Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February. Its closure has sent energy prices surging, triggered fuel shortages in several parts of the world and is stoking fears of higher inflation and slower global growth. Soaring fuel prices are also a political headwind for Trump. 

US Central Command said Sunday it would provide military support, including guided-missile destroyers, aircraft and drones to ships transiting the strait. 

But several shipowners and a ship manager contacted by Bloomberg said more concrete details would be needed, as well as assurances around key concerns including mines and safety from Iranian attacks. They asked not to be named given the sensitivity of the issue.

“Not many believe that the Strait will reopen anytime soon,” said Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chief analyst at A/S Global Risk Management Ltd., adding that the US plan marks the first attempt to reopen the chokepoint by military means. “The market will closely monitor Iran’s response.”

In his comments on Hormuz, Trump also said that representatives were having discussions with Tehran that could lead to something “very positive,” but didn’t offer additional details.

Iran gave the plan a cool reception. Any US interference in the strait would constitute a violation of the ceasefire, Al Mayadeen reported, citing Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission. The country’s new control zone will stretch from south of Mount Mobarak in Iran to south of UAE’s Fujairah, and from west of Qeshm Island in Iran to Umm al-Quwain in the UAE, Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported.

Over the weekend, OPEC+ agreed to a symbolic rise in June quota levels, as the group sought to send a business-as-usual message after the exit of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, touted its own growth plans.

Published on May 4, 2026

Aditya Birla Capital Ltd (ABCL) reported a 31 per cent year-on-year (yoy) increase in fourth quarter (Q4FY26) consolidated net profit at ₹1,129 crore against ₹865 crore in the year ago quarter.

The consolidated results include the results of 16 entities such as Aditya Birla Housing Finance, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC and Aditya Birla Health Insurance within the ABCL fold.

ABCL (in which the promoter and promoter group, including Grasim Industries, hold 68.51 per cent stake) is a listed systemically important non-deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company – Investment Credit Compamy (NBFC-ICC).

ABCL clocked a 19 per cent yoy increase in Q4FY26 standalone net profit at ₹776 crore (₹654 crore in Q4FY25). This came on the back of a 23 per cent yoy rise in loans, including retail, SME and HNI, to ₹1,50,635 crore as at March-end 2026.

Overall assets under management (standalone), including business loans – secured and unsecured, personal & consumer loans and Corporate / Mid-market loans was up 27 per cent yoy to ₹1,59,916 crore.

ABCL’s shares closed at ₹348.10apiece, up 0.80 per cent over the previous close on BSE.