Members of the Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure and Strategy have embarked on an observation tour of New Delhi and Mumbai to study infrastructure development. According to reports, all 12 members of the committee are participating in this tour, which has been organized by the Indian High Commission.
Meanwhile, political observers are drawing interesting parallels between historical and contemporary political figures in Sri Lanka and South India.
In Tamil Nadu, many had once predicted that M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) could become a “third force” capable of forming governments, with some even speculating he might become India’s Prime Minister. At the time, coalition governments dominated the political landscape, and any emerging third force had the potential to reshape power dynamics.
A similar trajectory was seen in Sri Lanka with the late Vijaya. When he entered politics, the two dominant parties were the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Vijaya eventually broke away from the SLFP to form the People’s Party. While the UNP and SLFP were largely supported by the Sinhala Buddhist electorate, Vijaya championed the rights of the Tamil population in the North. This allowed him to challenge the established parties and establish the People’s Party as the third political force. Through this approach, he gained recognition among the Tamil community while emerging as the only Southern leader in Sri Lanka to genuinely address Northern Tamil issues.
During this period, Vijaya traveled to Tamil Nadu, meeting MGR, as well as leaders in the North such as Plot leader Uma Maheshwaran and Telo leader Sabaratnam. By then, Vijaya had also won the Most Popular Actor Award in Sri Lanka, giving him a substantial fan base in the South. Engaged in left-wing politics, Vijaya united various leftist factions, ultimately leading to the formation of the United Socialist Front—a third force challenging Sri Lanka’s two major parties.
When the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord was signed, the JVP staged massive protests against it, and the SLFP boycotted the Provincial Council elections. Nevertheless, Vijaya contested the elections in support of the Accord, achieving remarkable success by coming second. This victory alarmed the ruling UNP, prompting them to attempt to suppress Vijaya politically. He faced imprisonment on Naxalite charges, and his image was removed from television and his voice silenced on the radio.
History now appears to be echoing itself in South India with Thalapathy Vijay. Like MGR and Vijaya, Thalapathy Vijay began his journey in cinema before entering politics. He has publicly addressed issues affecting the Tamil population in the North, staged satyagrahas, and undertaken hunger strikes in support of the LTTE. These actions have garnered him a massive following beyond the film industry.
Tamil Nadu politicians have reportedly expressed concern over Thalapathy Vijay’s political trajectory. Similar to the challenges Vijaya faced, Thalapathy Vijay has encountered restrictions, including bans on his films, yet his political momentum has not slowed. He is preparing to contest the Tamil Nadu state elections scheduled for next April and has emerged as a key challenger to the current Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin.
Political analysts suggest that Thalapathy Vijay’s party could secure between 70 and 100 of the 275 seats. If so, Stalin’s DMK is expected to win the most seats, with either Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK or Thalapathy Vijay’s party coming second. Such an outcome could spark a significant political revolution, reminiscent of Vijaya’s establishment of the United Socialist Front in Sri Lanka.
Many recall that the JVP, fearful of Vijaya’s influence, orchestrated his removal, believing that continued political activity by Vijaya threatened their existence. Today, Thalapathy Vijay occupies a similar position in Tamil Nadu and India, commanding immense support among the youth.
Recent reports indicate that if Thalapathy Vijay wins close to 100 seats in the upcoming elections, India’s ruling BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, may support him as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. However, as with Vijaya, this path has brought challenges, including threats to his life, highlighting the strong political parallels between Sri Lanka’s Vijaya and Tamil Nadu’s Thalapathy Vijay.
