Vijaya Prabhakaran counts on his father’s legacy, alliance strength in Virudhunagar
He says he is not new to politics as he toured the State in 2019 and 2021; he faces two-time Congress MP B. Manickam Tagore and the BJP’s Radikaa Sarathkumar in the Lok Sabha poll
The late actor and founder of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Vijayakant’s elder son V. Vijaya Prabhakaran is to soon make his debut into electoral politics by contesting from the Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency, where he faces twotime Congress sitting MP B. Manickam Tagore and the BJP’s new face Radikaa Sarathkumar.
The 33yearold architect, however, seems confident. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Prabhakaran said that he would put up a tough fight, emboldened by the strength of the AIADMK, of which the DMDK is an alliance partner, and also on the merits of his father’s legacy of good work in the region.
Mr. Prabhakaran said he was not new to politics, as he has toured across Tamil Nadu for the 2019 Lok Sabha election as well as the 2021 Assembly election for campaigns.
“Since my childhood, I have been attending party meetings and functions with my father and I have seen the ins and outs of the party’s functioning,” he said.
The reason he entered politics, Mr. Prabhakaran said, was to fulfill the unfinished dreams and wishes of his father in serving the people of the State.
Though he steered clear of specific promises for the constituency, he said he would ensure the provision of basic amenities, and would make up for all the failures of the sitting MP.
Exuding hope of a change of guard in the State in the next Assembly election, he said, “If that happens, I will work in tandem with the State government in ensuring that welfare schemes reach the people, 100%.”
When asked about taking on two strong alliances in the constituency, he said that he was aware of the strengths of the DMDK and the popularity of the AIADMK in Virudhunagar district.
“We will never indulge in lowly acts of conspiracy to win the elections,” Mr. Prabhakaran said.
To a question on the casteequations determining the outcome of the election in the constituency, he retorted that both the DMDK and AIADMK were not dependent on castes or religions.
“That is how our leaders, MGR, Jayalalithaa and Vijayakant have guided us thus far. People from all castes and religions are in our party and that is why the DMDK has a uniform vote bank across the State,” he said.
When asked whether the people of Virudhunagar would look at him as an outsider, Mr. Prabhakaran said that his forefathers had lived in the district. He recalled that his father had donated land worth ₹21 crore among the poor and the oppressed near Madurai airport, years before he entered politics.