The second State convention of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) at Parapathi on the outskirts of Madurai on August 21, 2025, drew large crowds, principally his followers, from throughout Tamil Nadu. The political spectacle evoked reminiscences of an identical present of energy in Madurai practically twenty years in the past, when one other actor-turned-politician, Vijayakant (then spelt as Vijayakanth), launched his political social gathering.
Fondly often known as ‘Captain,’ a moniker from his hit movie Captain Prabhakaran, and celebrated as ‘Puratchi Kalaignar’ [revolutionary artist] for his crusader roles in films, Vijayakant, then a 54-year-old matinee idol with 148 movies to his credit score, entered politics in a well-planned transfer. He had nurtured his followers’ affiliation right into a political power in a phased method.
Conversion of followers’ affiliation into social gathering
A report in this every day in March 2005 famous that celebrations held throughout districts to mark the silver jubilee of his followers’ affiliation had been additionally platforms to arrange for his political debut. A meticulous planner, Vijayakant was identified for his organisational abilities. As the president of the South Indian Film Artistes Association (Nadigar Sangam), he cleared its money owed by organising abroad stage reveals in Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai.
He structured his followers’ affiliation like a political outfit, with pupil and youth wings, and boards for farmers and advocates. With this groundwork in place, by the point he introduced his social gathering, he already had an organisational base and solely needed to convert the present equipment right into a political social gathering.
The announcement
It all formally started at a press convention in Chennai on June 1, 2005, the place he promised to unveil his social gathering’s title and beliefs at the primary State convention in Madurai. A month later, talking to The Hindu’s correspondent on July 7, 2005, whereas overseeing preparations for the convention at Thoppur in Madurai, he stated, “We do not want to enter into any alliance. I do not think any party will offer to back us. The question of a third front does not arise. This party will face the Assembly elections alone.”
Actor-politician Vijayakant in dialog with The Hindu in Madurai on September 12, 2005, two days forward of launching his social gathering in Tamil Nadu at town throughout a State-level convention
| Photo Credit:
S. James
To a query on whether or not there could be any coaching programme to remodel the followers into political cadres, he replied, “My fans are already involved in public service through ‘narpani mandrams.’ Distribution of welfare aid to the needy, scholarships to poor children and organising free marriages are regular features.”
Maiden convention
On September 14, 2005, amid grand fanfare, over two lakh folks attended the primary political convention at Madurai, the place Vijayakant unveiled his social gathering title – Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam – and its flag.
At the convention, he stated he would give attention to establishing fundamental facilities akin to shelter, electrical energy, and guarded ingesting water in all villages, and proposed to eradicate corruption. According to him, corruption may have been eradicated, however no authorities ever gave a severe thought to it. He additionally elaborated on guaranteeing the supply of high quality medical care and minimising the unemployment drawback.
Actor Vijayakant asserting the title of his political social gathering, ‘Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam’, at the social gathering’s first State convention in Madurai on September 14, 2005
| Photo Credit:
S. James
Promises
He stated his social gathering would implement 33% reservation for ladies and allocate 33% of the 234 Assembly seats to girls in the 2006 Assembly elections. He additionally pledged six months of paid maternity depart for ladies in authorities service, if his social gathering was voted to energy.
He alleged main political events had been exploiting caste to strengthen their vote banks and urged his cadres to kind a caste-free society by creating consciousness among the many folks to shed variations and be part of fingers, slicing throughout group strains.
Vijayakant additionally declared his social gathering would work to make sure high quality training for all. According to him, no pupil must be denied training for need of cash. “Though Tamil is our mother tongue, we must not stop the youth from learning other languages, which will help them get employment outside the State,” The Hindu reported, quoting Vijayakant’s speech from the convention.
Premallatha (then spelt as Premalatha), spouse of Vijayakant, (third from proper) at the primary State-level convention of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam in Madurai on September 14, 2005
| Photo Credit:
S. James
He additionally pitched for bringing an amicable answer to disputes amongst southern States by means of negotiations with neighbours on sharing river waters and stated linking of rivers had grow to be crucial.
Vijayakant’s political guru
Vijayakant additionally described actor-turned-politician and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), who went on to grow to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1977-87), as his political guru. He additionally recollected former Chief Minister Janaki Ramachandran gifting the marketing campaign automobile utilized by MGR to him.
Though there have been speculations that the DMDK was prone to align with some events to face the 2006 Assembly elections, Vijayakant, in a gathering organised to mark the 89th start anniversary of MGR in Chennai on January 17, 2006, declared his social gathering would contest alone, promising a corruption-free authorities, eradication of poverty, removing of unemployment, and provision of city amenities in rural areas.
Door supply of ration
He stated if his social gathering was voted to energy, it might guarantee ration objects had been delivered at folks’s doorstep. Answering those that had mocked him for saying this, he stated whereas residence supply of LPG refills and ingesting water cans was potential, the identical could possibly be completed for ration articles.
A piece of crowd at the primary State-level convention of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, throughout the social gathering’s launch by Tamil actor Vijaykant in Madurai on September 14, 2005
| Photo Credit:
S. James
During the election marketing campaign section, when Vijayakant hit the street in his State-wide tour, numerous folks gathered to see him and take heed to his speeches, significantly in components of northern and southern Tamil Nadu.
First electoral efficiency
In the elections, his social gathering entered the fray in the 232 out of 234 constituencies however 33% of the tickets weren’t given to girls as promised. Vijayakant efficiently contested the Vriddachalam Assembly seat, polling 61,337 votes and defeating R. Govindasamy, the sitting MLA from the PMK, by a margin of 13,777 votes. Though he was the only real consultant of his social gathering in the Assembly, the DMDK polled a substantial vote share of practically 8.38%.
