Chennai, April 21:
In a high-voltage electoral contest ahead of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has deployed actor-politician Kamal Haasan as a key campaigner, taking on the growing influence of Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, particularly in Chennai.
The move underscores the intensifying “star versus star” battle in the State, with both major players leveraging popular cinema figures to sway voters. While Kamal Haasan has been campaigning extensively for DMK candidates, Vijay has emerged as a significant challenger, especially in urban constituencies.
According to reports, Kamal Haasan recently campaigned in Coimbatore for DMK candidate V. Senthil Balaji, expressing confidence in a decisive victory and attempting to strengthen the party’s position in western Tamil Nadu.
During his campaign, Haasan criticised the Centre over the denial of a metro rail project for Coimbatore, questioning why similar relaxations were granted to cities like Patna and Agra but not to what he described as the “Manchester of South India.”
Meanwhile, the political spotlight has increasingly shifted to Chennai, where Vijay’s entry into electoral politics has added a new dimension to the contest. His party, TVK, is contesting across constituencies and aiming to challenge the DMK’s dominance in the capital, where the ruling party had swept all seats in the previous election.
The DMK’s decision to deploy Kamal Haasan is seen as a strategic counter to Vijay’s popularity, particularly among younger voters. With both camps relying on star power and mass appeal, the elections in Chennai are shaping into one of the most closely watched battles in the State.
As campaigning enters its final phase, the clash between established political machinery and emerging celebrity-driven politics is expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome in key urban constituencies.