Actor Vijay not to join Congress, DMK [TFC]

Chennai, Sept. 13: Ending speculation about his joining the Congress, actor Vijay said on Sunday that he would not join the party. Though he praised the Congress and the DMK regimes at the Centre and the state, he said he would not join either party. Instead, he would strengthen his people’s movement and focus on politics that would “do good to Tamils in the state and world Tamils in general”. He has not ruled out the possibility of converting the people’s movement into a party in future.

The 35-year-old Kollywood star’s meeting with Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on August 24 and Mr Gandhi’s invitation to Vijay during his recent visit to the state gave rise to speculation about Vijay joining the Congress.

“Rahulji’s simplicity inspired me. He asked about my film career. We talked about Tamil Nadu politics and my people’s movement. But there was no talk about offering me a plum post in the Congress as rumoured in the media,” Vijay told reporters here when asked about his meeting. “I am not joining the Congress or the DMK. I have several lakhs of young fans. I have the social responsibility of leading them in the right direction. They are serving society through the people’s movement. Strengthening the people’s movement is my present goal,” he said.

Vijay said in future he would be ready to join hands with some political force that would do good to Tamils in the state and world Tamils in general.