Noted actor and film director K Bhagyaraj, whom the late MGR had once proclaimed to be his heir in the world of arts, on Wednesday joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), claiming that he was doing so to save the name and fame of MGR. Meeting DMK president M Karunanidhi at the party headquarters here, Bhagyaraj pledged support to the DMK, that has been fishing for star campaigners in the run up to the May 8 Assembly elections. Comparing Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, he said Jayalalithaa, an actress, had a glamorous appeal among the masses when she entered politics.?Kalaignar is full of knowledge and experience and his schemes reflect it,? he said. ?People were critical when the noon meal scheme was introduced, but it was a success. Similarly, rice for Rs 2 is also possible,? he said in reply to a question.Earlier, explaining the reasons behind joining the DMK all of a sudden, he said it was natural to raise the question why he, the film heir of MGR, had accepted Karunanidhi?s leadership. He said it was by accident that he initially came to politics. Attracted by MGR, he had wanted to enter films. Later, he realised that directors and writers, the backbone of the film industry, were subsequently attracted to Karunanidhi. ?Due to circumstances, the two leaders I admired most were in opposite camps when I entered films,? he said. ?In a sudden turn of events, MGR accepted me as his film heir,? Bhagyaraj said, explaining the reason behind entering politics and campaigning against Karunanidhi. (He had earlier, floated his own party MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, which he had to wind up within months).Admitting that his decision to campaign for Karunanidhi now would come as a surprise to many, he said it was MGR who showed him the way to accept Karunanidhi?s leadership. He pointed out that when in 1969, the DMK was faced with selecting between Karunanidhi and the late Nedunchezhian after Anna?s death, MGR was also instrumental in making Karunanidhi the Chief Minister.As Karunanidhi was ?breathing? the welfare of Tamils even in his old age, Bhagyaraj said he had taken the right decision to work under his leadership. Among other reasons, he cited the sidelining of MGR loyalists like R M Veerappan, Thirunavukkarasar, KKSSR Ramachandran, Dr H V Hande, and K A Krishnaswamy, in the AIADMK led by Jayalalithaa over the years.On the contrary, Karunanidhi had offered posts to MGR loyalists in the party as well as in the cabinet, he said.Even in the present candidates list of the AIADMK, names like S Semmalai, Erode Muthusamy and Saidai S Duraisamy were missing, he said. Moreover, the way the AIADMK treated the late R Thamaraikani and its dismissal of 10,000 road gang mazdoors of whom more than 60 died, had hurt him deeply, he said.Asked if his fans would accept him, he said his fans would accept his argument when he started the campaign. ?I am not forcing anyone. Understand the reality,? he said.
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