Hours ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly election results which are set to be declared today, actor-turned-politician Vijay's father and noted director SA Chandrasekhar offered prayers at the Subramanyaswamy Temple in Tiruttani. Videos of his visit have been circulated widely on social media.
The director who has frequently voiced his support for his son, had previously expressed his pride in witnessing him chart a political path driven by the noble cause of serving the people of Tamil Nadu. Speaking at an event in December last year when Vijay's electoral entry was almost finalised, Chandrasekhar reflected on Vijay’s journey, from his rise as a leading actor to his entry into mainstream Tamil Nadu politics. He remarked that Vijay could have chosen to focus solely on strengthening his star image and continuing to earn money, but instead opted to dedicate himself to the welfare of the state and its people.
Besides Tamil Nadu, election results for Puducherry, Assam, West Bengal and Kerala are also set to be declared today. Postal ballots are currently being counted in Tamil Nadu. With Vijay's soaring popularity, especially after is political entry, all eyes are currently on the actor and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) which is expected to earn a significant vote share in the state.
The Tamil Nadu political landscape has always been dominated by a 50-year-old duopoly between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). With Vijay's entry, the political game in Tamil Nadu had undergone a significant shift, marking a landmark year for elections in the state.
Vijay's party members had contested in all of the 234 seats in the state while he stood from two constituences - Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East. The actor had also been visiting major shrines prior to the results. After making a visit to the Thiruchendur Murugan Temple last week, he also prayed at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra.
On the film front, Vijay's latest film Jana Nayagan is eyeing a post-election release after facing major delays and legal hurdles for its story and political themes. The issue further deepened after the film was leaked online on pirated sites. Chennai Cyber Crime police revealed that the accused in the leak of Jana Nayagan's footage, is a freelance editor who worked on the film. He was arrested on charges of illegally exploiting the footage. The film's editor Pradeep E Ragav, has also been temporarily suspended on basis of violating the bylaws of South Indian Film Editor's Association (SIFEA).
