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Stars shine brighter in Tamil Nadu
By Papri Sri Raman, Indo-Asian News Service 

Chennai, March 14 (IANS) The assembly poll in Tamil Nadu in May is likely to see more Tamil movie stars in the fray than ever before. 

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And that may not be much of a surprise in a state that gave India its first actor-turned-chief minister in M.G. Ramachandran, or MGR as he was popularly known.

The one actor who has a clear aversion to politics is Kamal Haasan, who says modestly: "I don't have the time or inclination to enter politics."

Ahead of the polls, some politicians are trying to turn into actors.

Superstar Rajnikanth may fight shy of politics after siding with the DMK in the 1996 assembly elections in an anti-corruption crusade that saw the defeat of the government of J. Jayalalitha, herself a former movie star. Jayalalitha returned to power in 2001 and now faces a tough challenge to retain power.

Thol Thirumavalavan, the Dalit Panthers of India leader, recently acted in a film "Anbu Thozhi", which is expected to have a public release just before the elections.

Thirumavalavan has often criticised the Tamil film industry for allegedly showing Tamil culture in poor light, for carrying non-Tamil titles, for their non-Tamil clothing and for numerous scenes of smoking and drinking. 

In "Anbu Thozi", Thirumavalavan is seen in military fatigues, carrying what looks like an AK-47. As elections draw near, walls are plastered with his pictures, in a uniform of sorts and with a gun. 

Some say that Thirumavalavan, on the wall posters, looks suspiciously like 'Captain' Vijayakanth, who has floated a political outfit called Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK).

Ever since he floated the DMDK, Vijaykanth has been scotching rumours that his outfit has been offered at least 10 seats in the elections by the ruling AIADMK. 

But no matter how much he professes that he will fight the polls on his own, AIADMK chief and Chief Minister Jayalalitha has reportedly asked her cadres not to attack Vijaykanth while campaigning.

The DMK of course does not like Vijaykant's repeated attack on it. DMK chief and former chief minister M. Karunanidhi wants to know the "real source" of Vijaykanth's income.

The DMK has its own problems with its star candidates. 

Actor D. Napleon had in 2001 fought against a Congress candidate in Tamil Nadu's largest constituency Villivakkam, in outer Chennai. Now the same Congress is the DMK's closest ally.

DMK Rajya Sabha member Sarath Kumar too has been busy trying to demonstrate an independent following in the southern constituencies, giving rise to speculation.

On Saturday he hurt himself falling off a stage at Tuticorin. 

The All India Forward Bloc in Tamil Nadu has elected actor M. Karthik as its state president and has been steadily veering towards the AIADMK rather than the DMK.