As Vijay’s political debut takes shape, TN parties welcome it but with hints of caution

Udhayanidhi Stalin says Vijay's cash-for-votes remarks were welcome; Annamalai says coming from him, message goes far; Tamil Nationalist leader Seeman says star's entry would strengthen “alternative politics”

Tamil superstar Vijay addressed a massive gathering of school students at the Thalapathy Vijay Education Award Ceremony in Chennai Saturday. (Twitter/@TVMIoffl)

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Tamil Nadu parties across the board have spoken about superstar Vijay’s potential political debut, with the actor recently hinting at taking the plunge.

Both AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami and Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of DMK Chief Minister M K Stalin said everyone was within their right to enter politics. Asked specifically about Vijay’s remarks against cash-for-votes, Udhayanidhi said: “Of course yes, isn’t it a good message?”

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BJP state president K Annamalai, who recently stirred a row with his comments on the AIADMK-BJP alliance, said he welcomed Vijay’s advice to youth to tell their parents not to take money for votes. “We have been advocating the same. When Vijay says it, it gains momentum,” said Annamalai.

Tamil nationalist leader and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman, who is a former Tamil film director, said Vijay’s political entry would “only strengthen alternative voices in the state politics”, At the same time, he asserted that Vijay’s entry would not affect his party, “which had a vote share of 6% in the 2021 Assembly polls”.

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Rebel AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, who heads the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), said it was “good” that someone as influential as Vijay was making such an appeal against cash-for-votes. “What he said about bribing voters is true,” Dhinakaran said.

Incidentally, Dhinakaran has himself faced allegations of bribing voters and even come under the Election Commissioner scanner for the same.

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In a state that is familiar with cinema to politics crossovers, Vijay’s entry was long-anticipated, especially in light of the base he has built through his fans organisation called the All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyyakam.