VMI to become political party as Vijay eyes Assembly polls, 'Thalapathy' elected party president

CHENNAI: The political party led by Tamil superstar Vijay will be registered in February. Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, the actor's fan group, will now become a complete political party. The general council meeting held at Panayur near Chennai elected Vijay as the party president.

The general secretary and treasurer were also appointed. The general council meeting was also held for the central executive committee. Vijay was tasked with deciding the name of the party. Registration will be done as soon as the name is decided. And then the party will move to electoral politics.

The party eyes the assembly elections to be held in 2026. Party activities will be active in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It is the youth who make up the majority audience for Vijay's films. The 200-member general council meeting also decided to start programs to include maximum number of youth in the voter list.

Sources close to Vijay said that the name of the party will be in keeping with the tradition of Tamil Nadu and will have 'Kazhakam' along with the name. For ten years it was widely rumoured that Vijay would enter politics. Vijay, who has acted in 68 films, has always tried to keep his fan groups active. Vijay fans are doing charity work, free food distribution, educational scholarship, reading rooms, evening tuition and legal aid across Tamil Nadu.

His speech at a student event in Chennai last June hinted at a political entry. He asked students and parents not to take money from politicians for votes and educate themselves about leaders like BR Ambedkar, Periyar EV Ramasamy and K Kamaraj.

Bond between Tamil politics and cinema

The 49-year-old Vijay is among the stars who entered politics like MGR, Shivaji Ganesan, Jayalalitha, Vijayakanth and Kamal Haasan. Vijay will be among a group of young politicians in Tamil Nadu including DMK's Udayanidhi Stalin (46) and state BJP president K Annamalai (38). Among them, the senior leader is 57-year-old Seeman, director, Tamil nationalist and leader of the Naam Tamizhar party.