Bhubaneswar, May 4 -- R. Sabarinathan, the son of TVK Chief Vijay Thalapathy's driver, has quickly become one of the most closely watched figures in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, blending personal emotion with political momentum. The 30-year-old, who is contesting from Virugambakkam in Chennai on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket, is currently leading against his Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) rival-an early trend that could mark a significant symbolic victory for the relatively new party.

Sabarinathan's rise has drawn widespread attention not just for his electoral performance, but also for his background. He is the son of Rajendran, a long-time driver and trusted aide of actor-turned-politician Vijay, who has been associate...