Chennai, Mar 15 (PTI) While the world outside chatters nonstop about potential alliances, a quiet hope permeates the salt-soaked air at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai.
Inside the swanky new beachside office, with its imposing white walls, the transition from fan following to political force is taking a tangible, human shape.
Mostly young people — die-hard fans of actor-politician Vijay — queue up daily, waiting for hours to bag posts in the party. For these supporters, the shift from ‘Thalapathy’ fans to TVK cadres is more of a pilgrimage than a career move.
However, for many, the political plunge has required significant professional sacrifices.
Samuel, 33, a mechanic, recalls it was not easy convincing his family that he might have to be “jobless” initially.
“It was not possible to hold on to my job in a workshop. TVK is just starting out, there’s a lot of work to be done. We are expected to pitch in, especially with outreach,” Samuel says.
He says he got married recently. “So, I understand their concern. Who would like it if “pudhu mappilai” (new husband) is jobless?” Samuel adds.
But now that he is promised a ward secretary post, Samuel says he is glad he stood his ground.
Vidya, all of 28 and a resident of Pallavaram, is lot luckier than Samuel.
A nurse by profession, Vidya says she invested in a small neighbourhood clinic in Pallavaram that now runs on its own, leaving her time to “indulge in politics”.
“We are financially sorted for now. My husband used to be a contract worker for local municipality, driving earth movers for them. He quit his job, got himself an auto, as that gives him flexibility when it comes to working time,” says Vidya.
Vidya says she quit being “just a fan” eight years ago. “Thalapathy has been an inspiration beyond cinema halls. I wanted to follow his example and give something back to the society, so I joined Vijay Makkal Iyakkam eight years ago and started volunteering. We used to collect funds, go to schools and distribute uniforms and notebooks,” Vidya says, adding that she met her husband while volunteering.
When Vijay made a decision to enter politics, she said they were only happy to follow his lead.
“By then we were married and my husband, Vijaykanth, who is even a bigger fan than I am — he actually worships the ground that Vijay walks in — encouraged me to join politics as well,” Vidya says.
It helped that her entire family had great respect for Thalapathy, Vidya adds.
“My in-laws were also okay with it; in fact they take care of my son and daughter when I have to travel on work,” Vidya says.
Vignesh, 35, who’s been promised Chengalpattu district secretary post and who drives auto “on and off” when he is not busy with party work, says he feels the pinch, but every time he meets people, he is amazed by the welcome TVK gets.
“I have been long associated with Vijay Makkal Iyakkam and have been doing a lot of social work in Thalapathy’s name. But this is something else, when we go meet people door-to-door especially, we are so warmly welcomed. People are really fed up with all that corruption,” Vignesh says.
Vignesh says he is energised by all that positive feedback. “It makes me hopeful for a better future — for the people around me and for me as well.” Vignesh is also aware that “inexperience” is TVK’s Achilles’ heel. “So, I understand that we will have to balance it out with experienced politicians from other parties and even alliances. But I do hope that we hold on to our key ideology — to weed out corruption,” Vignesh says.
An alliance with the BJP-AIADMK, he points out, will go against the very grain of TVK.
Vidya too says she was shocked when she read in newspapers that TVK is going to form an alliance with the BJP.
“It came as a great relief when the party high command denied it immediately,” Vidya added.
However, Aishwaraya, yet another die-hard fan of Vijay — who made news when she tonsured her head to protest postponement of ‘Jana Nayagan’ — her faith in her idol is so big that she says she will do whatever he says.
“There is no way he will mislead us. There will always be a reason why he will choose a particular path,” Aishwaraya insists.
A graphic designer running her own business in Anakaputhur, Aishwaraya says she earns enough to run her family and could spare time to pursue her dreams.
“And my dream is to overcome all challenges and install Thalapathy Vijay as CM,” she adds. PTI JR JR ROH
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