Even as superstar Rajinikanth is yet to decide on taking the political plunge and actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan is pitching himself as the alternative for the two Dravidian majors in Tamil Nadu, another film star seems to be waiting in line to get into active politics in the near future. Vijay, who nurtures political ambitions, could possibly be the next big star to take the leap. However, the actor hasn't given any indications about when he would make the grand entry.
While his father director S.A. Chandrasekhar wants Vijay to get into politics without further delay, the actor seems to have decided to stay away from politics for now.
On Thursday, as news broke out that an application has been submitted with the Election Commission of India by his father to register Vijay’s fan club 'Vijay Makkal Iyakkam' (Vijay people’s movement) as a political party, the actor sought to distance himself from the move. Vijay clarified that he has no part in his father’s decision to register his fan club as a political party.
“It is purely my move. I have applied for registration of political party in the name of All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. It is my initiative. This is not Vijay’s political party. I can't comment whether he will enter electoral politics,” Chandrasekhar told THE WEEK. However, he refused to explain why he applied for registration and why Vijay is yet to decide on his political plunge.
Minutes after the application for registration of a political party was released to the media, Vijay came out with a clarification, saying he has no links to it. In a strongly worded statement, Vijay said, “Today I came to know through the media that my father S.A. Chandrasekhar has started a political party. I would like to categorically tell my fans and the people that I do not have any direct or indirect links with the party. In the future, any political move taken by my father will not bind me.” He also asked his fans to be neither part of the political party started by his father nor work for it. “There are no links between our movement and that political party,” he said.
He also warned action against anyone linking his name or photo with the future activities of All India Vijay Makkal Iyakkam.
Though Chandrasekhar and Vijay clarified their stance, the news turned out to be major embarrassment for the actor. Kollywood industry sources say tussle between the father and son has been brewing for more than a month. While the father wants the son to take the political plunge, Vijay has been hesitant as he feels that this might not be the right time to make the political move.
According to sources, Chandrasekhar believes that this could be like the “1996 Rajinikanth moment” for Vijay. In 1996, Rajinikanth came out strongly opposing
Jayalalithaa and there was a mood against the Dravidian parties then. However, Rajinikanth merely supported the DMK-TMC combine and chose to stay away from active politics. Chandrasekhar reportedly feels that this is the right time for Vijay to enter politics as there is no leader like Jayalalithaa or Karunanidhi in the state.
It may be recalled that in March 2011, during an election campaign at Tiruchirapalli, Chandrasekhar called on Jayalalithaa and pledged Vijay Makkal Iyakkam’s support for the AIADMK. That was the time when the father-son duo were disturbed by the failure of his movie Sura, produced by Sun Pictures. Later Vijay faced trouble in 2013, just before his Thalaiva was slated for release, as it had the tag line “Time to lead” which reportedly offended Jayalalithaa.