TN Assembly polls | I was an accidental actor, but always involved in party work, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

‘I have campaigned for my grandfather and my father even in my school and college days’

Even before coming to the film industry, I was very active in politics. I have campaigned for my grandfather and my father even in my school and college days. I grew up in Gopalapuram and have travelled extensively across Tamil Nadu for party work along with my father. Along with Kalaignar’s (Karunanidhi) personal assistant Shanmuganathan I used to proofread his letters published in party organ Murasoli. Cinema was only an accident. I was forced to do a movie and then some offers came...many of my family members are associated with the film industry. Getting into acting as a hero was a mere accident and I never thought that my first movie would become a huge hit. But I have always been involved in party work. Cinema is an added advantage. Only 10% of the people who come to my public meetings look for the celebrity in me...a majority of others see me as Kalaignar’s grandson. I am seeing the same public response that I saw in 2019. There is a clear anti-Modi wave in Tamil Nadu along with the anti-incumbency factors against the AIADMK. People don’t differentiate between the BJP and the AIADMK...for them, both are one and the same. The wave against Prime Minister Modi has only intensified in the State due to various factors, particularly CAA, NEET and so on. The BJP is trying to use religion to gain votes but people of Tamil Nadu have always rejected such communal politics. Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni is DMK’s fort. Kalaignar won thrice here. J. Anbalagan as MLA got infected by Coronavirus while distributing welfare measures to the people and died. I am very confident of winning. It’s not that I am not visiting. I have covered almost the entire constituency and people are saying I should focus on other constituencies. My team is also working round-the-clock.