Unless their fans are motivated for a political plunge, actors will make no difference to political parties, the former TNCC president, B.S. Gnanadesikan, said on Friday. In other words, actor Khushboo would not bring in votes for the Congress.
“While people like to watch and listen to film stars, converting that fervour into a vote bank is difficult,” he said here, ahead of the re-launch of the Tamil Maanila Congress.
This proved right during the 1989 Assembly polls when actress Sridevi campaigned unsuccessfully for the Congress in three constituencies, including Sivakasi, where her father Ayyappan was defeated.
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The former Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, meticulously planned a political career by acting and making films with political messages and simultaneously preparing his fans for his political avatar.
He also groomed Jayalalithaa for a political career by making her the propaganda secretary of the AIADMK, and a vibrant party organisation at all levels made it easy for her to succeed.
“Grassroots organisations are vital to tapping into the glamour of the film personalities,” he said. Despite its strong base, the DMK could not benefit from the campaign of comedian Vadivelu in the 2011 Assembly polls, Mr. Gnanadesikan said to drive home his point.
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“On the other hand, DMDK founder Vijayakant, who moulded his fan clubs along political lines, could help the DMK in the beginning and later use them for his own political outfit,” he said. The DMDK is the principal Opposition party in the State.
He rejected the argument that the decision of many former Moopanar loyalists to stay with the Congress would affect the fortunes of the TMC. “Even 100 leaders means nothing if there is no cadre base,” he said.