Actor Vijay is an icon in Tamil cinema | Twitter/@actorvijay
Text Size:
A-
A+
New Delhi: Tamil famous person Vijay, 47, fondly referred to as Thalapathy (younger commander) by his legions of followers, made his foray into politics moderately efficiently without campaigning or contesting elections.
In the Tamil Nadu rural native physique elections final week, his fan membership — All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam — recorded a 68 per cent strike charge, successful 115 of the 169 seats it contested.
While the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) swept the polls, wherein over 27,000 seats have been up for grabs, Vijay’s fan membership, marking its political debut, did higher than actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam, the Pattali Makkal Katchi, actor Vijaykant’s Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) — all established events within the state.
This was the primary time the actor gave consent to workplace-bearers of his fan membership to contest elections in his title.
In early September, Vijay had moved court docket towards 11 folks, together with his dad and mom and members of his fan membership, for utilizing his title and pictures throughout elections. In November final 12 months, the actor even issued a assertion when his father registered the ‘All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam’ with the Election Commission of India as a political celebration. “I inform my fans and the public that there is no relation whatsoever between the political party that my father has started and me, directly or indirectly,” he had stated then.
In lower than a 12 months, the actor agreed to elections being contested in his title underneath the identical celebration title and even set two major standards for candidate choice — “educated youth” and “equal representation to women”.
Bussy Anand, normal secretary of the Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, instructed ThePrint that the outcomes weren’t surprising because the celebration had earned a lot of goodwill in Thalapathy’s title, particularly through the Covid lockdown.
Detailing the record of labor accomplished, Anand stated, that through the pandemic, in 10 districts, together with Salem, Thanjavur, Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Trichy, the fan membership gave free breakfast and rations to folks, supplied them with sanitisers and medicines, and even organized oxygen for these in want.
“All of this was accomplished in Thalapathy’s title. All of the cadres labored very effectively,” he stated. “The Vijay Makkal Iyakkam has been around for the past 27 years and for close to 20-22 years we have been giving free saris, dhotis etc in Vijay’s name.”
Anand stated all members of the fan membership went door to door and campaigned in Thalapathy’s title and used his photograph in addition to a flag along with his title and picture.
The celebration’s Kancheepuram unit head, E.C.R. Saravanan, stated the actor’s reputation helped within the polls. “Vijay’s popularity and him being a man who works and fights for the rights of the downtrodden is what worked in our favour,” he stated.
Vijay, a movie icon in Tamil cinema, is an actor, playback singer and philanthropist who began out as a baby actor.
Extremely widespread among the many youth, in 2014, he was the most Googled Tamil actor, overtaking Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Last 12 months, a selfie he reposted had the document of being essentially the most retweeted photograph of the 12 months in India.
He has performed the lead in over 60 films, reaching a lot success commercially in India and abroad.
His fan membership of over 10 lakh members campaigned in his title. While he hasn’t formally contested elections, the actor had prolonged assist for victims of alleged police excesses within the anti-Sterlite agitation and protests towards the NEET.
Although Anand was very guarded about Vijay himself becoming a member of politics and contesting elections, saying it’s one thing for the actor to determine, the native items of the famous person’s fan membership say they’ll persuade him to hitch politics, including that it’s the pure course of occasions.
Also learn: DMK reasserting itself or nonetheless ‘anti-Hindu’? Tamil Nadu temple reforms spark political query
Mainstream events, analysts not too impressed
Many, nevertheless, will not be too impressed with the fan membership’s success. Mainstream political events imagine the All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam just isn’t one to be taken too severely and solely one thing smaller events ought to be careful for.
The ruling DMK stated it doesn’t connect an excessive amount of significance to the outcomes of Vijay’s fan membership.
Speaking to ThePrint, DMK spokesperson A. Saravanan stated the story was not in regards to the votes gained by Vijay’s fan membership however how the DMK had swept the native physique polls and “set a new benchmark under the leadership of (Chief Minister) M.K. Stalin”.
“We don’t take their results and votes received that seriously. This is something for smaller parties such as Kamal Haasan’s or the PMK or AMMK to take notice of. The DMK does not attach too much importance to the results of the All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam,” Sarvanan stated.
Analysts say that the fan membership has a lengthy strategy to go, and that Vijay is attempting to have his cake and eat it too.
Ramu Manivannan, Professor and Head of Department of Politics & Public Administration on the University of Madras, stated the fan membership’s outcomes weren’t in regards to the celebration however extra in regards to the persona.
“Saying it’s a fan club is not sufficient political ground. If you say it is your party, then people can openly challenge you. All of this is a double standard,” Manivannan stated. “Vijay has shown interest for a while but politics demands sacrifices. Currently, he wants to be in politics without making sacrifices. He wants to have his cake and eat it too.”
He stated the fan membership contesting elections in Vijay’s title was a method of accelerating his market worth and catching the general public area and creativeness. “Currently, he is only confusing the voters,” he stated.
Muthukumar, head of division of Political Science at Presidency College in Chennai, stated the fan membership did effectively primarily as a result of children, including that they didn’t have a correct grassroots construction like established events such because the DMK and the AIADMK within the state.
“Youngsters like either Vijay or Ajith but Ajith is nowhere in politics currently.” Speaking about Vijay’s different counterparts who entered the political fray, comparable to Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, Muthukumar stated, in each circumstances, a grassroots presence was lacking.
Drawing a comparability with MGR and Jayalalithaa, he stated the 2 former CMs of Tamil Nadu had an immensely sturdy grassroots presence, which was a defining issue of their electoral successes.
“MGR had that charisma and, through his films, songs and the kind of movies he chose formed a connection with the public politically. Vijay is trying to do the same but one has to wait and see if he will be successful; if he decides to officially join politics,” Muthukumar stated.
(Edited by Arun Prashanth)
Also learn: Why Stalin consoling OPS over his spouse’s demise has sparked hope of civil political tradition in TN
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram
Why information media is in disaster & How you possibly can repair it
India wants free, honest, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even extra because it faces a number of crises.
But the information media is in a disaster of its personal. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The better of journalism is shrinking, yielding to crude prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the best younger reporters, columnists and editors working for it. Sustaining journalism of this high quality wants good and considering folks such as you to pay for it. Whether you reside in India or abroad, you are able to do it right here.
Support Our Journalism
