Why Captain has taken centre stage in TN poll drama

When launched in September 2005,not many were willing to place a wager on DMDK’s future,notwithstanding the fact that Tamil Nadu has a history of leaders with a silver screen background. Scriptwriter-cum-present Chief Minister M Karunanidhi of the DMK,matinee idol-turned-CM M G Ramachandran of the AIADMK,his on-screen heroine and successor J Jayalalithaa are testimonies to the state’s affinity towards film personalities. Even as the public and the media focused their attention on superstar Rajnikanth to be the next possible political entrant,Vijayakanth burst into the scene with his party,refusing to align with any of the existing parties. It is also true that not many were willing to join hands with the newcomer then.

This condescension,however,was short-lived. In less than four years,the national and regional heavyweights,cutting across ideologies,were eagerly awaiting his decision before they could finalise seat-sharing within their respective alliances.

Right from the beginning,Vijayakanth positioned himself as an ‘alternative’ and based his

decision to go alone during elections on this plank. ‘Captain’,as he is known to his fans,Vijayakanth criticised Jayalalithaa for the corruption allegations levelled against her,while Karunanidhi was flayed for his brand of family politics.

In the May 2006 elections,the DMDK contested from all the 234 seats,but could win only one Vijayakanth himself from Virudunagar. The party,however,garnered 8.33 per cent vote share. Most importantly,Vijayakanth showed that there was space for an alternative in the

state’s political arena by polling more votes than the margin of victory at many places,thus ensuring the defeat of one of the leading contenders (AIADMK was the worst-affected). This spoiler tag drew the notice of political pundits.

Unlike many of his predecessors who entered politics from the silver screen,Vijayakanth did not reach this position of strength with ease. MGR had the charisma to hold sway over the majority for nearly a decade. Karunanidhi still remains one of the best wordsmiths,while Jaya had MGRs legacy and her own fans to retain AIADMK’s grip on the electorate. Vijayakanth had none. Glamour had never been his strength and his oratory skills were limited to the on-screen punch dialogues. His fans were said to be lesser in number than those in Rajni and Kamal camps.

But what he lacked as tools to form a captive vote bank,he made up with his grit. He campaigned extensively across the state for his candidates mostly youth and first-time entrants. Instead of literary gems,he offered to bash up those DMDK men who did not pay heed to public problems.

Yet another factor that separates Vijayakanth from the rest of the politicians is fund-raising. Whereas other parties are accused of plundering the state coffers,the DMDK is dependent on the funds released by its leader from his own money,earned over the years by acting in over 150 films. However,not all is non-controversial in the DMDK. Even as Vijayakanth continues his tirades against Karunanidhi’s alleged nepotism,he has made his wife Premalatha and brother-in-law LK Sudheesh the next in his partys hierarchy.

Speculation is rife about the DMDKs decision and many are expecting the party to fill the void left by the PMKs exit in the UPA. It makes political sense as Vijayakanth has expressed keenness in forging a partnership with the Congress. But the move would be seen as politicking,which might erode the credibility of his only USP of being an ‘alternative’. After all,his present stature owes all to his careful positioning as the other,a viable alternative to the DMK and the AIADMK.

The DMDK still cannot win even one out of the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. But politically,it is like a suicide bomber who can take down many with it. That is enough to make Vijayakanth important,larger than the actual clout his party wields,for fans,observers and even rivals.