I. Paranthaman, the DMK candidate for the byelection to the Madurantakam Assembly constituency, was seen telling voters during his campaign that he is also a fan of actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, even as his earlier derogatory remarks against Vijay and other TVK leaders have drawn attention.
Speaking to people during the campaign, Paranthaman said that being a fan of Vijay was different from supporting him politically.
“I am a Vijay fan too. You, the youth, are the ones who need to convey this. They are all our friends; everyone is a Vijay fan. I am a Vijay fan as well. Whether during my college days or while practicing as a lawyer, I have always been a Vijay fan. However, being a fan is one thing, and politics is another. I am a Vijay fan too.”
The remarks come shortly after Paranthaman was reported to have attacked Vijay and TVK functionary Nirmal Kumar in strongly derogatory terms.
Paranthaman had reportedly described Vijay as having acted like a “psychopath” and called for Nirmal Kumar to be admitted to a mental asylum while criticising the TVK leadership.
Now, while campaigning for the Madurantakam bypoll, the DMK candidate has publicly emphasised his long-standing admiration for Vijay, saying that he had been a fan of the actor since his college days and continued to be one while practising as a lawyer.
At the same time, Paranthaman made it clear that his admiration for Vijay as an actor does not translate into political support, saying, “being a fan is one thing, and politics is another.”
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