In the film-eclipsed Tamil Nadu politics, the late matinee idol M G Ramachandran, his charismatic protege Jayalalithaa, and Karunanidhi, a highly acclaimed film script writer, have been trailblazers. Inspired by their success, elections in the state have always been a star-studded affair.

This time too, several celebrity candidates will remove their grease paint and join in the rough and tumble of the state’s politics in the run-up to what threatens to be one of the most bitterly fought Assembly elections. At least five actors are in the fray, some fielded by either the ruling AIADMK or the main opposition DMK. But many more have joined the AIADMK hoping for a party ticket and boosting their sagging film careers.

However, two popular actors who took the political plunge in a big way have chosen to strike it out on their own. While actor Vijayakant, who floated the Desiya Mupokku Dravida Kazhagam last year, failed to enter into a pact with the AIADMK, another well-known actor, Kartik, who heads the Tamil Nadu unit of the All India Forward Bloc, would also be blazing a lonely trail.

Senior actor Vijayakumar, a much-in-demand actor for powerful character roles, small-time actor Murali, popular comedian, Senthil, and film ‘villain’, Anandraj joined the AIADMK recently. But, only Anandraj managed to get a ticket to contest in Pondicherry. Strangely, elections this time is shorn of glamour with no woman actors in the fray. Talks of Kushboo being fielded by the AIADMK against M K Stalin, son of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, in the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai had been doing the rounds, but they proved to be a rumour.

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