AIADMK reaches out with star power

The AIADMK’s star campaigners’ list is exactly that – a list of stars on the silver screen and television. Though the list starts with leaders like party general secretary and chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Nanjil Sampath, M Thambidurai and Edappadi Palanisamy, notable absences are O Panneerselvam, Natham Viswanathan and actor Namitha who joined the party in Trichy last week.
Star campaigner and actor Anandaraj’s job is to follow the campaign trail of DMK leader M Karunanidhi and set the record straight. A day after the veteran’s rally at Tiruvarur, Anandaraj went to the town to counter the claims of the DMK and its total prohibition plank. He will be in Thanjavur soon after Karunanidhi’s meeting on Tuesday. “Mine will be gentle, political criticism, though I don’t entertain personal enmity with anyone,” the actor said.
Anandaraj often played the bad guy in films, a good number with DMDK leader Vijayakanth. But the people don’t see him as a villain, says Anandaraj. Popular news readers, Fathima Babu and Nirmala Periasamy have been roped in to take to the masses the welfare schemes of the government. Comedian Singamuthu, who is currently touring Tuticorin district, said he could see a “wave for AIADMK.”
“I speak on the scams of DMK-Congress combine, and the developmental works of Amma,” he said, engaging with a Jaya TV crew for the latest episode of “Nalla Solraangaiya Detailu,” a halfhour political satire aired daily. Veteran ‘Vennira Aadai Nirmala, who shot to fame along with Jayalalithaa in the film ‘Vennira Aadai’ in 1965, said: “Jayalalithaa is a visionary unlike others.” The popular actor was pitted against Jayalalithaa by the Janaki faction in 1989 elections in Bodi assembly constituency.
Actors Ramarajan and Vindhya have also hit the streets. Other actors on the list include Manobala, Arthi, Thyagu, Vaiyapuri and Ponnambalam. Film directors R V Udhayakumar and Liyakat Alikhan are also star campaigners.