Silence broken, but confusion continues

Will film actor Vijayakanth launch a political party with his fan club backing and enter politics? Or won't he?

Well, you can keep guessing for some more time as no one knows for sure and that includes the actor himself.

The much-awaited press meet in which he opened his mind turned out to be a disappointing routine as the actor spoke
without saying much. If perhaps he seemed certain of something, it was that he does not wish to launch himself into politics and fail.

'I am taking my steps very cautiously. I do not want to make a mistake and fail. If I take a step and have a fall and 'hurt' myself then no one will r bother with me. Even you (media) will not inquire about me after that', the actor said at a press meet at his Andal Azhagar marriage in Koyambedu, here today.

He said he was not responsible for the speculation that he had already named his party. 'I may launch a party. Maybe this
august or next August or on Tamil New year day or at anytime. I am not starting a party today', he said with a smile.

According to him the decision will depend on the developing situation as also the 'right time'. But he asserted that if he took a decision there would be no going back on it. Queried further, he admitted that launching himself into politics
depended more upon him than his fan club but insisted that his fan club would be allowed to have a say. 'I am thinking of leaving it to a vote among my fan club members at a conference next year, just as Anna did'.

Asked what his aim would be after getting into politics, he said he would reply once he took the step. He claimed he was not a novice in politics as criticized by the PMK founder Dr Ramadoss and said that he had been politically active since he was a 12-year-old and even took part in the anti-Hindi agitation.

To a question on the resentment being expressed over film stars entering politics, he said, actors had taken up social causes qualifying them for politics. 'Since the Neyveli stir by actors last year on the Cauvery issue, film industry in Tamilnadu had to put up with loss in film revenue from distributors in Karnataka. Film actors have always been elected to high offices, not just in Tamilnadu. Ramadoss himself had acted in three films', he said.

The tiff between his fan club and the PMK was now a closed chapter, he claimed and refused to comment on the incidents of violence or the critical comments by PMK leaders.

There is no question of joining any political party, he also said. Despite his diffident responses his fan club members came wearing Dhotis with the party flag embossed on the border. 'Yes, you are right. The flags put up at a fan club venue has gained recognition among the public', the actor said.