Kochi: Joseph Vijay is the fourth actor to become Chief Minister while legendary hero M G Ramachandran (MGR) was the first to achieve the feat in 1977.
Setting an example 50 years before for others to emulate, MGR was voted to power with 130 seats defeating his arch rival Karunanidhi led DMK
which got only 48 seats then.
Ironically Karunanidhi, who brought MGR to DMK in 1953, was instrumental in flushing out DMK in 1972 after the death of Anna Durai. MGR floated AIADMK in 1972 when his party tasted first victory in an assembly by-election.
Karunanidhi’s government was dismissed by the Congress government at Centre in 1976 after which in 1977 MGR’s AIADMK won 130 seats to capture power in Tamil Nadu.
Telugu actor N T Rama Rao (NTR) emulated MGR to enter politics through his Telugu Desam Party to become the second actor to become Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 1982.
It was MGR’s longtime heroine J Jayalalithaa who became the third actor to become Chief Minister reviving the AIADMK in 1991.
Vijay who reportedly took over Rs 400 crore as remuneration for acting in a film is perhaps the most prosperous actor to become Chief Minister.
MGR sets example
