On August 21, 2025, the second state conference of Tamilga Vatri Kazhgam of actor-royalty Vijay in Parapati on the outskirts of Madurai from Tamil Nadu, mostly crowded his fans. The political spectacle developed the memories of a similar show in Madurai nearly two decades ago, when another actor-consentor, Vijayakant (then spelling as Vijayakanth) launched his political party.
A manicer from his hit film is known as ‘Captain’ Captain PrabhakaranAnd is celebrated as ‘Purchi Kaligner’ [revolutionary artist] For his crucier roles in films, Vijayakant, then entered politics in a well -planned step, for his credit with 148 films with a 54 -year -old Matini Murthy. He nurtured the Sangh of his fans in a political power in a phased manner.
Conversion of fans in party
In March 2005, a report in the Daily said that the ceremonies held in the districts to mark the Silver Jubilee of his fans were also a platform to prepare for their political start. A careful planner, Vijayakant was known for his organizational skills. As the President of the South Indian Film Artists Association (Nadegar Sangam), he approved his debt by organizing a foreign platform show in Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai.
He structured the association of his fans like a political organization, with students and young wings, and forums for farmers and advocates. Along with this base, until he announced his party, he already had an organizational base and only had to convert the existing equipment into a political party.
Announcement
All this formally began at a press conference in Chennai on 1 June 2005, where he promised to unveil his party’s name and ideology at the First State Conference in Madurai. A month later, talking Hindu ‘On July 7, 2005, correspondent, supervising the arrangement for the conference in Thoppur, Madurai, he said, “We do not want to enter any alliance. I don’t think any party will offer us to return. The third front question does not arise. This party will face the assembly elections alone.”
In a conversation with Hindu in Madurai on September 12, 2005, actor-royalty Vijayakant, two days before starting his party in Tamil Nadu during a state level conference. Photo Credit: S. James
On the question whether there will be any training program to convert fans into political cadres, he replied, “My fans are already involved in public service”Narpani Mandram‘Distribution of welfare assistance to the needy, scholarship for poor children and free marriage are regular features. ,
First conference
On September 14, 2005, amidst grand pomp, more than two lakh people attended the first political conference in Madurai, where Vijayakant unveiled his party’s name – Desia Marku Dravid Kajgam – and its flags.
At the conference, he said that he would focus on establishing basic facilities like shelter, electricity and protected drinking water in all villages, and proposed to eradicate corruption. According to him, corruption could be eradicated, but no government ever gave it serious views. He also expanded to ensure delivery of quality medical care and to reduce the problem of unemployment.
Actor Vijayakanth announced his political party, ‘Desia Maravid Kazgam’ at the first state conference of the party in Madurai on 14 September 2005. Photo Credit: S. James
Promises
He said that his party will implement 33 percent reservation for women and will allot 33 percent of the 234 assembly seats to women in the 2006 assembly elections. He also gave six months of payment maternity leave for women in government service, if his party was voted in power.
He alleged that the major political parties were exploiting caste to strengthen their vote banks and urged their cadre to create awareness among the people and urge them to shed differences and create a caste-free society to shed differences and cut hands in community lines.
Vijayakant also announced that his party would work to ensure quality education for all. According to him, no student should be denied education for the desire for money. “Although Tamil is our mother tongue, we should not stop the youth from learning other languages, which will help them get employment outside the state,” Hindu Reported Vijayakant’s speech from the conference as saying.
Premalatha (then spelling as Premlatha), Vijayakant’s wife, (third from right) at the first state-level conference of Desia Maravid Kazgam in Madurai on 14 September 2005. Photo Credit: S. James
He also asked to bring a cordial solution for disputes between the southern states through dialogue with neighbors on sharing the river water and said that it has become mandatory to add rivers.
Vijayakant’s political guru
Vijayakant also described the actor from the actor and Mg Ramachandran (MGR), the founder of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazgam (AIADMK), who became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1977-87), went as his political guru. He former Chief Minister S. Janaki was also remembered by gifting the campaign vehicle used by MGR.
Although there was speculation that DMDK was likely to align with some parties to face the 2006 assembly elections, Vijayakant, in a meeting held to mark 89Wan On January 17, 2006, the birth anniversary of MGR in Chennai announced that his party would go alone, a corruption -free government, eradication of poverty, removal of unemployment and provision of urban facilities in rural areas.
Ration door distribution
He said that if his party was voted in power, it will ensure that ration items were distributed at the door of the people. Responding to those who had made fun of them to say that they said that LPG’s home delivery refill and drinking water cans were possible, which could also be done for ration articles.
During the party’s launch by Tamil actor Vijayakanth in Madurai on September 14, 2005, Desia Maravid Dravid Kazgam’s first state-level conference. Photo Credit: S. James
During the election campaign phase, when Vijayakant hit the road in his state-wide tour, a large number of people gathered to see him and listen to their speeches, especially in parts of northern and southern Tamil Nadu.
First electoral performance
In elections, his party entered the field in 232 out of 234 constituencies, but 33% ticket women were not promised. Vijayakant successfully fought the Vidhachalam assembly seat, voted for 61,337 votes and MLA from PMK R. Defeated Govindasamy by a margin of 13,777 votes. Although he was the only representative of his party in the assembly, DMDK gave a significant vote of about 8.38%.
Published – August 27, 2025 05:00 AM IST
