Vijayakanth: drumming his way into Dravidian politics

Vriddhachalam (Tamil Nadu), May 4 (IANS) Drums herald the rise of a new star on the horizon of Dravidian politics. The man is matinee idol Vijayakanth, often called "karpaga (dark) MGR".

After M.G. Ramachandran, silver screen stalwarts like Sivaji Ganesan, Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan have fought shy of politics, but not rural Tamil Nadu's idol, Vijayakanth. His party, the DMDK, was allotted its "drum" symbol just about a week ago.

His fan following does not stretch abroad. He became popular with films like "Captain Prabhakaran". His movies "Amman Koil" and "Chinna Gounder" have made him a star among the agrarian communities like Gounders.

Last winter, when Vijayakanth floated the DMDK, it was dismissed as yet another "kazhagam" (party). But for the assembly polls May 8, the DMDK has fielded 234 candidates for the 2006 assembly elections.

When the sick and the old gather around under margossa and banyan trees at the government general hospital here, the palliative he brings to them is the promise of an alternative.

Speaking to IANS on his campaign trail, Vijayakanth said he was sure of winning 65 seats. Analysts predict 24 seats at least that could be the "deciding factor" in forming the next government.

Vijayakanth says his party will cut across the caste-based voting that Dravidian parties like the DMK, PMK and AIADMK have so long depended upon.

"We have selected each candidate on the basis of his/her ability and the one who is most suited for the area," he says, adding that the DMDK has fielded 13 Muslim candidates.

Vijayakanth's personal decision to contest from this Vanniya community heartland and PMK stronghold startled even his well-wishers. The MLA from Vriddhachalam is PMK's R. Govindasamy and the area MP is E. Ponnusamy, another PMK strongman.

"Vriddhachalam has been the back of beyond until he (Vijayakanth) decided to contest from here and make it famous," says Rajendran, 25, a former PMK activist.

In all the 300 hamlets with 100,000 odd voters, the mango symbol of the PMK is painted on the walls of houses.

So who are Vijayakanth's voters? Surprisingly, all his supporters, his campaign managers and enthusiastic DMDK activists are former PMK men.

The AIADMK is contesting here against the PMK, but in 800-people villages like Kavanai, "80 percent will vote for Vijayakanth", predicts farmer Kumar.

At a tea shop in Mathur, another farmer, Rajaram, tells us why. "We have seen both the DMK and AIADMK. They don't matter here. We have always voted for the PMK but they have not done anything.

"There are no doctors in the primary healthcare centres, the roads are rain battered still and our sugarcane fields are dry."

Vijayakanth goes directly to people, telling them: "I have no freebies to give you but if you vote for my party, I promise roads, drinking water, healthcare."

Under the hot mid-day sun, crowds welcome him with crackers, cymbals.

He says: "The DMK and AIADMK think they are jolly, distributing alms, so many kilos of free rice, so much of gold... People understand, they want development, not alms."

Vijayakanth's manifesto has made some novel promises such as rations delivered at the doorstep by the PDS and the introduction of a three-language formula - Tamil, English and any Indian language of a student's choice-in state schools.

His fan association president K. Balakumar says: "After MGR, Vijayakanth is the people's thalaivar (leader)."

The PMK's cadre at every street corner watch angrily as Vijaykanth campaigns, two-dozen vigilant policemen dogging his every step.

Asked if he is not afraid, he says: "No, I have always rooted for rural India, they are my people, I will continue to be in politics now, even if our party does not do well in this particular election."