Actor Vijay, who recently expressed his intention to enter politics, and fellow film star and Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan, who had stated that his party was open to an electoral alliance with the Congress, drew the ire of BJP leaders on Monday.
BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan criticised Vijay over his plans to take the political plunge.
“Someone who spent three-fourths of his life focusing on how to fill his coffers [and] not worrying about the welfare of the people now wants to enter politics and criticise [other] politicians. This is laughable. I think he is hallucinating. These people think everything is a movie,” she said.
Referring to the actor’s upcoming film Sarkar, Ms. Soundararajan said, “If, just by naming a movie Sarkar, he gets such importance, imagine the importance we should give those people who are actually part of the government. Let him [announce his political entry]. I will reply to such developments after they happen.”
The BJP’s State unit had attacked Mr. Vijay last year as well, as his film Mersal had dialogues and scenes critical of the Goods and Services Tax and other Central government programmes. BJP National secretary H. Raja had even brought up the actor’s religious identity while criticising him.
Addressing mediapersons in Namakkal, veteran BJP leader L. Ganesan criticised Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan over his reported statement that he was open to an alliance with the Congress. “How can I trust that he is against corruption if he wants an alliance with the Congress?” asked Mr. Ganesan.