Veteran actor Sivakumar welcomes Vijay as Tamil Nadu CM, says voters wanted change
At a Coimbatore event, veteran actor Sivakumar, Suriya and Karthi's father, welcomed Vijay's victory and said voters had chosen change. His remarks, alongside contrasting responses from actor Sathyaraj, highlight the Tamil film industry's varied reactions.
Veteran actor Sivakumar, Suriya and Karthi's father, has welcomed Tamil star Vijay’s rise as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, saying the people had chosen change after decades of Dravidian party rule. His remarks came at a hospital event in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, where he was speaking to the media alongside actor Sathyaraj, as members of the Tamil film industry continue to be asked about Vijay’s victory in his first electoral contest.
Speaking about Vijay’s win, Sivakumar said voters had made their choice and that they are the ultimate judges. "We can feel happy for Vijay right? You've all voted for him thinking he'd bring a difference. Change is something that we cannot avoid."
He said a large section of those who voted were youngsters - who were also first-time voters, and added that many of them had voted without taking money. He also said that his own grandson, Suriya’s son, had cast his vote.
Sivakumar on Vijay’s victory
The 84-year-old actor placed the result in the context of Tamil Nadu’s political history. Recalling former Chief Minister K Kamaraj, he said Kamaraj had spent nine years in prison and later served as Chief Minister for nine years, but was still voted out.
Sivakumar said that when Kamaraj died, he had very little to his name. "When he died, he had only Rs 140 underneath his pillow, five or six books, two pairs of slippers and some four of five kurtas. That was all he owned. Can you see such a leader today? But he was still defeated," he said.
Sivakumar then said the Dravidian parties went on to rule the state for nearly 60 years, but this time people did not want either the DMK or the AIADMK and had voted for Vijay instead.
Backing Vijay, he said, "People decide who they want in power. 90 per cent of those who voted are youngsters, first-time voters at that, and they have voted without taking money. My own grandson (Suriya's son) voted. They are the future. People wanted change. Who are we to say that it is wrong when they can choose their leader? Let's hope that Vijay will do good. I am happy he has won."
Sathyaraj’s stand after the election
Interestingly, Sathyaraj, who was present with Sivakumar at the Coimbatore event, has been a firm supporter of the DMK. After the party’s defeat in the recent Tamil Nadu elections, he released a video in which he said he had backed the Dravidian model government and Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin over the last five years, and declared that his support for Stalin and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam would remain even stronger in the period ahead.
After Vijay became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, many actors, directors and celebrities have been extending congratulations to him.