In the remarkable rise of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu, Kapil Sahu has become a pivotal figure. The TVK clinched 108 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections, marking the end of the DMK’s reign in the state.
Sahu is regarded as the “architect” behind the campaign strategy that enabled TVK to achieve a surprising and robust victory in its inaugural election. This outcome has disrupted the long-standing supremacy of the DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
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Who is Kapil Sahu?
Sahu is a political strategist known for his key behind-the-scenes contributions to election campaigns. Prior to joining TVK, he was affiliated with the prominent political consulting group, Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), led by strategist Prashant Kishor, where he specialized in election strategy, voter data analysis, and campaign planning.
He later departed from I-PAC alongside several colleagues to establish his own independent political consultancy. Throughout the years, he has supported various political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), and Congress with their electoral strategies.
Sahu’s experience spans about nine states in India. During the 2019 Sikkim Assembly elections, he directed the entire campaign for the SDF party statewide. In the 2020 Delhi elections, he worked locally for politician Raghav Chadha, focusing on targeted voter outreach. He also took on the role of assisting AAP’s growth in Uttar Pradesh, collaborating closely with the party’s leadership, including those connected to Arvind Kejriwal.
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Beyond electoral work, he has also developed government communication strategies. Previously, he led a communication team for the office of CN Ashwathnarayan, coordinating messaging among various government departments.
Currently, Sahu is steering the election strategy for Vijay’s party, TVK. Despite facing significant hurdles, such as the Karur stampede tragedy that resulted in 41 fatalities and media controversies surrounding Vijay’s personal life, Sahu managed crisis communications to safeguard the party’s reputation.
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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
First Published: May 5, 2026 5:49 PM IST
