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The appointment of Premalatha Vijayakanth as the general secretary of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) comes at a critical juncture, with her husband and party founder-president Captain Vijayakanth facing significant health challenges.
Born to a middle-class family in Gudiyattam, a village in Vellore district, 54-year-old Premalatha’s journey in Tamil Nadu politics was marked by a series of transformative events and decisive actions even as her husband’s health gradually declined.
Marrying Vijayakanth in 1990, she initially maintained a low profile. But, as Captain’s health waned, her political acumen and leadership qualities propelled her to the forefront of the DMDK. For almost a decade, she has been instrumental in shaping the party’s policies and strategies, especially in the absence of Vijayakanth through ill health. Her speeches, often filled with fervour and conviction, resonate with the party’s grassroots supporters, consolidating her position as a formidable force in Tamil Nadu politics.
The party, which once enjoyed a strong voter base that ensured some electoral successes, has seen a decline in fortunes. When the DMDK contested alone in the 2006 Assembly polls and the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, it garnered 8.4% and 10.3% vote shares, respectively. But the party hasn’t won a single seat in the state after 2011, a period that also marks the beginning of the decline in Vijayakanth’s health and withdrawal from active politics.
A DMDK leader who now focuses on his family businesses said, “Running a political party is no easy feat, particularly in the complex and ever-changing environment of Tamil Nadu. You have to read, write and work hard. Neither Premalatha nor her children can revive the party without Vijayakanth. Currently, it is in shambles. She will have to rebuild it from scratch. We have no major faces left with us. The followers are all old Vijayakanth fans in their fifties and sixties,” said the businessman, who is still in touch with Premalatha and occasionally attends party meetings.
According to him and her close associates, the DMDK is in a tight spot over finances. “The party’s resources are severely drained, leaving it with limited assets, mostly in real estate. The lack of liquid cash to fund party activities and campaigns adds another layer of difficulty to Premalatha’s task of reviving its fortunes,” said a DMDK leader, adding that contesting in at least five seats, in alliance with a larger, more powerful party, will help it to reinvigorate.
Vijayakanth’s marriage to Premalatha was influenced by industry veterans such as yesteryear superstar Sivaji Ganesan and Sivakumar — veteran actor and superstar Surya’s father — both of whom encouraged Captain to marry outside the film fraternity for “stable” family life. The wedding, attended by the likes of the DMK’s M Karunanidhi, marked a shift in his life, with Premalatha becoming an influential figure.
In the mid-1990s, she transitioned from being a homemaker to taking an active role in managing his career. Her brother L K Sudheesh also got involved, managing Vijayakanth’s fan associations and venturing into film production. It was her ambition to see Vijayakanth as a CM that influenced his shift from cinema to politics. The transition was partly attributed to the declining success of his films, prompting a strategic move to embed strong political messages in later ventures.
Despite box office failures, Vijayakanth maintained a substantial rural fan base, particularly among Dalits and OBCs. This fanbase played a crucial role in the DMDK’s performance in the 2006 Assembly elections, which reflected Vijayakanth’s popularity in rural areas, particularly among the socially and economically disadvantaged communities.
Premalatha’s ascent in the DMDK, particularly post-2011, coincided with the decline in her husband Vijayakanth’s health and his gradual exit from active politics. Assuming control in 2016, she astounded party members with her oratory, often invoking Vijayakanth’s legacy as similar to “Karuppu MGR”, the revered AIADMK founder.
The tenure of Premalatha, who is an award-winning college orator and former basketball player, has been marred by accusations of autocratic leadership and centralisation of power, leading to internal strife and the departure of key DMDK figures. Her election as general secretary at the recent general council meeting was not just a formal procedure; it was a symbolic transition of power from Vijayakanth who, wheelchair-bound, witnessed the meeting.
Premalatha’s assertion that she wears a “crown of thorns” sums up her political journey. After touching Vijayakant’s feet, she claimed that DMDK remains a significant force in the state. “In alliance with any party, we’re certain to send MPs to Delhi in 2024. Give DMDK a Rajya Sabha seat in writing, and we’ll get the Lok Sabha seats,” Premalatha said. Alliance talks in Tamil Nadu for the 2024 polls are expected to start by January-end.
In her new role, Premalatha faces the daunting task of reviving the DMDK. Besides opening a new party office in Koyambedu in the city, she is also aiming to build a social media team similar to the powerful IT wings of the DMK and the AIADMK. In a party with hardly any leaders left, the primary goal for the DMDK in the coming elections appears to be securing at least one seat, possibly through an alliance with the NDA.
