Move over Jaya, Karunanidhi, Vijaykanth is here

Tamil megastar and founder of DMDK opens party office in New Delhi 

NEW DELHI: If it is Chiranjeevi in Andhra Pradesh and Mayawati elsewhere, ‘Black MGR’ is the one who is set to spoil the chances of the established parties, the DMK and AIADMK, in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil megastar Vijaykanth, popularly known as ‘Black MGR’ for his Robin Hood image and concern for underdogs, said here on Tuesday his party, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (National Progressive DMK), will provide an alternative to the AIADMK and DMK, who have been ruling the state alternately.

Vijaykanth, who has acted in 150 films, launched the DMDK in 2005 and contested all 234 assembly seats in 2006. Though he was the only candidate from his party to get elected, the fledgling DMDK polled 8.38% (28 lakh) votes, spoiling the AIADMK’s prospects.

In 2007, the DMDK roughly polled 20% votes in Madurai West in central byelections and in the local body elections across the state. In the Chennai corporation bypolls, it bagged 32% votes in 100 wards.

Vijaykanth, who is affectionately also called ‘Captain’ for his role as a captain in a film on the life of slain bandit Veerappan, has brought his party into national focus by opening a branch office at Karol Bagh (central Delhi) to take up the Tamil cause.

He addressed a gathering of local Tamils and held a press conference at a five-star hotel here on Tuesday, amid speculation that he was working in tandem with the Congress, who, too, is keen to float a third alternative in Tamil Nadu.

Analysts say Vijaykanth is eyeing the post-Karunanidhi political space as the DMK patriarch’s warring children may make his job easier.

Addressing the “trilingual” press conference, where he took questions in Tamil, English and Hindi with the help of an interpreter, Vijaykanth said he would learn English and Hindi before his next media conference in Delhi.

Earlier, a seven-minute video was shown to the media recapitulating his “humble beginning” as an actor and a messiah of the poor – distributing sewing machines, etc, and his various awards – best Tamil citizen, best humanitarian, etc. The film showed huge and responsive crowds thronging to his rallies.

Vijaykanth said he was a “fan of MGR” and believed in “changing the lives of people”.

He scotched rumours of his proximity to the Congress even as he tried to project an independent political line.

k_benedict@dnaindia.net