Will Dhanush be the next chief minister? Will he follow Vijay's path? Fans' association renamed

CHENNAI: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) spokesperson M. Sathyakumar has said that actor Vijay's journey from cinema to the Chief Minister's post is an inspiration for those who wish to enter politics. His remarks came after actor Dhanush's fan association was renamed, triggering speculation about the actor's possible political entry.

Dhanush's fan association has been renamed 'Dhanush Narpani Iyakkam' (Dhanush Welfare Movement), sparking fresh political discussions. Around 3,000 office-bearers attended a meeting held in Coimbatore. The meeting focused on discipline, social service and welfare activities. However, Dhanush himself did not attend the meeting. The actor has not made any official announcement about entering politics.

Speaking to a national media outlet, Sathyakumar said the TVK was happy to see that its journey had inspired new groups aspiring to enter politics. He added that Vijay's political entry was the result of decades of work and was not something that could be easily replicated.

Before entering politics, Vijay had transformed his fan association into a platform for social service. His fans were organised through activities such as free food distribution, setting up libraries and providing legal assistance. This network later became the foundation of the TVK.

A similar change appears to be taking place in Dhanush's fan association. Office-bearers gathered for the meeting in Coimbatore, where former journalist and ex-AIADMK MP Rabi Bernard spoke about discipline and welfare activities. An ISRO scientist also addressed the gathering.

Sathyakumar said that although the TVK was formed only two years ago, its foundation had been laid much earlier. He claimed that Vijay had spent 33 years transforming his fan association into a social service movement. Some ordinary fans who stood by Vijay during difficult times have now become ministers, he said. However, he added that it would not be easy for others to follow Vijay's political model.

Tamil Nadu's political history has several examples of personalities from cinema and literature entering politics. C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi influenced Dravidian politics through their writings and film scripts. Actors M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa went on to become Chief Ministers.

However, a successful film career does not always guarantee success in politics. Actors like Sivaji Ganesan, Vijayakanth, Sarathkumar and Kamal Haasan had also ventured into politics but failed to make a significant impact. Rajinikanth, meanwhile, eventually dropped his plans to enter politics after years of speculation. Against this backdrop, Vijay's electoral victory and rise to the Chief Minister's post have brought renewed attention to the possibility of other actors following a similar path.