“ Karuppu MGR vandhu vittar , Captain vandhu vittar, varungaala muthalvar vandhu vittar (The ‘dark MGR’, Captain and future Chief Minister has arrived)”. Such high-decibel slogans rent the air as actor-turned politician Vijayakant emerges on top of the campaign van in the full glow of arc lights.
Cadre of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), the party Vijayakant founded, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other allies in their front for the coming Lok Sabha polls lustily cheer the leader waving party flags, only to get chided by the actor. “Put down the flags or move away.. you know me better.. I will drive away if you do not put down the flags,” he shouts in anger as the crowd is stuck in angst.
But the moment he starts speaking, the crowd enjoys every bit of his style and gesticulations.
The leader gets a second round of applause when he puts on his dark glasses. But he would also not tolerate if the cadre do not behave. He would call them ‘mischief mongers’ and ask the partymen to bundle them out. If they still failed to listen, he would call them for a one-to-one and the crowd would turn uproarious.
After settling down, Vijayakant launches an all-out offensive against the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for ‘ruining’ the State all these years. “One is five times Chief Minister and the other is three times Chief Minister, but both vied with each other in looting the country,” he charges.
“ En makkale (my dear people), why don’t you vote for a change in this election and make Mr. Narendra Modi Prime Minister?” he turned serious. The State has not witnessed any development and people continued to suffer under the AIADMK rule in the State and the Congress-led UPA rule at the Centre, he said. Canvassing votes for the BJP candidates in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga on Saturday and Sunday, the actor-politician ridiculed the AIADMK’s slogan of peace, prosperity and progress, alleging progress and prosperity were only for Ms. Jayalalithaa and her ministerial colleagues.
He said after coming to power in May 2011, she could not resolve the power crisis and address the fishermen issue. She had promised to retrieve Katchatheevu, but only kept writing letters to the Prime Minister, he criticised.
Both Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts continued to remain backward. Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who has won from Sivaganga seven times, had promised to make Sivaganga a “mini Singapore” but the district has made little progress, the actor added.
