Chennai, March 15 – While the world outside is constantly discussing potential alliances, a quiet hope permeates the air at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai.
Inside the newly built office, with its imposing white walls, the transition from being a fan to becoming a political force is taking tangible shape.
Mostly young people – die-hard fans of actor-politician Vijay – queue up daily, waiting for hours to secure positions in the party’s yet-to-form district units and booth-level committees. For these supporters, this shift is more of a pilgrimage than a career move.
However, for many, this political involvement has required significant personal sacrifices.
Samuel, 33, a mechanic, recalls that it wasn't easy to convince his family that he might have to "lose his job" initially.
“It was difficult to maintain my job at the workshop. The TVK is just starting, and there’s a lot of work to be done. We are expected to contribute, especially with outreach,” Samuel says.
He says he recently got married. “So, I understand their concerns. Who wouldn’t want their new husband to have a stable job?” Samuel adds.
However, now that he has been offered a ward secretary position, Samuel says he is glad he stood his ground.
Vidya, 28, a resident of Pallavaram, is also fortunate.
A nurse by profession, Vidya says she invested in a small neighbourhood clinic in Pallavaram that now operates independently, giving her time to "engage in politics".
“We are financially stable now. My husband used to work as a contract worker for the local municipal, driving JCBs for them. He quit his job and bought an auto, which gives him the flexibility to work whenever he wants,” Vidya says.
Vidya says she stopped being "just a fan" eight years ago. “Thalapathy has been an inspiration beyond the cinema halls. I wanted to follow his example and contribute to 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 decided to enter politics, Vidya says they were 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 Vijay – encouraged me to join politics as well,” Vidya says.
Vidya adds that her entire family respects Thalapathy.
“My in-laws also support this; in fact, they take care of my children when I am traveling for work,” Vidya says.
Vignesh, 35, who has been offered the Chengalpattu district secretary post and drives an auto "on and off" when he is not busy with party work, says he feels the pinch, but he is always amazed by the welcome TVK receives.
“I have been associated with Vijay Makkal Iyakkam for a long time and have been doing a lot of social work in Vijay’s name. But this is something else – when we go door-to-door, we are always warmly welcomed. People are really fed up with all the corruption,” Vignesh says.
Vignesh says he is energized by all this positive feedback. “It gives me hope for a better future – for the people around me and for myself.”
Vignesh is also aware that "inexperience" is TVK’s biggest weakness. “So, I understand that we will have to balance it out with experienced politicians from other parties and even alliances. But I hope that we can stick to our core ideology – to eliminate corruption,” Vignesh says.
An alliance with the BJP or AIADMK, he points out, would go against the very core of TVK.
Vidya too says she was shocked when she read in the newspapers that TVK was going to form an alliance with the BJP.
“It was a great relief when the party leadership denied it immediately,” Vidya adds.
However, Aishwaraya, another die-hard fan of Vijay – who made news when she shaved her head to protest the postponement of ‘Jana Nayagan’ – is so devoted that she says she will do whatever Vijay says.
“He will never mislead us. There will always be a reason why he chooses a particular path,” Aishwaraya insists.
Aishwaraya, a graphic designer who runs her own business in Anakaputhur, says she earns enough to support her family and has time to pursue her dreams.
“And my dream is to see Thalapathy Vijay as the Chief Minister,” she adds.