Actor Vijay tests political waters before taking the plunge

Tamil actor Joseph Vijay, fondly known as 'Illayathapathi' among his fans, is understandably watching the political developments in the State. With the launch of superstar Rajinikanth's party getting delayed, Vijay may be wanting to test the waters by observing. However, sources close to the actor say he will take the plunge at the right time.

Chennai:Tamil film star Vijay, the reigning monarch of Kollywood, is testing the political waters even as he is undecided about taking the plunge. Is he yet another from the tinsel world with huge political ambitions? It appears so, though he is not in a hurry.

Posters proclaiming him as the 'Next Chief Minister,' put up by his enthusiastic fans appeared all over Trichy on Saturday even as the actor was said to be engaged in a series of consultations with the functionaries of “Vijay Makkal Iyakkam” (Vijay People's Movement) in Chennai. Also, this comes close on the heels of his father and film-maker, S A Chandrasekaran making it clear that the VMI would be converted into a political party at the appropriate time.

However, the actor had advised his fans to refrain from such campaigns indicating that he is still making up his mind on jumping on to the rough and tumble of politics.

Popular actors entertaining political ambition is nothing new, but Vijay, the highest-paid actor in the Tamil tinsel world, is one having a huge fan following not only in Tamil Nadu but in neighbouring Kerala as well. The state had seen five Chief Ministers from filmdom. While superstar Rajinikanth is yet to launch his party, versatile actor Kamal Hassan had floated his outfit and secured nearly 5 percent votes in the LS poll.

As such, his eventual political entry is keenly watched and has not been lost on established political parties. For it is no mere conjecture since his recent movies were politically loaded, stirring up a hornet's nest with the BJP and the ruling AIADMK protesting in front of theatres during the release of “Mersal” and “Sarkar”. While the BJP was enraged over the actor debunking GST and Demonetisation in Mersal, the reference to Sasikala in Sarkar was unpalatable to the AIADMK.

Yet, there was wild speculation about Chandrasekhar joining the saffron party, despite the bitterness in the past. He was expected to follow suit after Kollywood's yesteryear glamour doll Kushbu's induction into the BJP. It was not to be. “Why should I join BJP? There is no need for that. The rumor was spread by those interested in cashing on me being the father of Vijay. VMI will not merge with the BJP. Instead, it will be converted into a political party at the opportune time,” he told ETV Bharat.

Now, with assembly elections in Tamil Nadu expected early next year, the actor’s fans have turned restive. According to sources close to the actor, Vijay had been holding consultations with the district level functionaries of VMI for close to a week. He had completed the discussions with a few districts so far, the sources added.

Will he keep an endless wait like Rajinikanth or follow the path of Kamal Hassan? The answer lies a few months down the line.

“He is testing the waters. He is young and his fans association, VMI, has been engaged in charitable works to reach out to the people. His father Chandrasekar is very astute and never fails to keep the actor's political ambition in the limelight. He might be waiting to see the prospects of Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan, before taking jumping into politics. It is unlikely that he will launch his political journey in this coming assembly election. But, he might take the plunge later on,” says Dr C Lakshmanan, teaching at the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS).

No wonder that even while keeping a studied silence, he keeps the pot boiling.