By Mata Press Service

India’s Tamil Nadu – the movie star obsessed Land of Temples – has seen five chief ministers in the last five decades from the local film industry.
Here, star power equates political power and silver screen familiarity breed’s votes.
There are three chief ministerial candidates - incumbent J.Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK, DMK president M. Karunanidhi and DMDK founder A.Vijaykant - all from the movie world who will be contesting for Tamil Nadu’s top job next month.
Apart from them, there is an array of aspirants from the Southern India film industry, campaigning to be politicians in an alphabet-soup laden pantheon of parties.
On May 16, 2016, some 57.9 million people will cast ballots at 65,616 polling stations to elect representatives for the 234 seats of the Legislative Assembly in the state of Tamil Nadu in India.
The ramifications of this outcome will be felt sharply in the federal capital of New Delhi where alliances between state and national parties dictate the future of India’s political dynasties.
In this massive show of democracy, one man is hoping to make a difference and move voters from the lure of showmanship to the promise of real, radical and relevant change for Tamil Nadu.
“We are all about real change not just making speeches like in the movies,” said 
G.K. Vasan, who leads the fledgling Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC).
“The people of Tamil Nadu are fed up with the empty promises made by the AIADMK and DMK…the promises are good but they have never amounted to anything,” Vasan, a former federal minister, told the South Asian Post.
The AIADMK is led by veteran actress Jayaram Jayalalithaa, 68, who has served as chief minister four times before and who is called by her supporters simply as "Amma" or mother. 
Critics accuse her of establishing a personality cult, but her brand of “Amma” politics has strong roots in Southern India. Popular for her anti-poverty relief measures, Jayalalithaa is also known for her extravagant lifestyle - police once discovered more than 10,000 saris and 750 pairs of shoes in an anti-corruption raid on her premises. Her name is also registered in Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the "largest wedding banquet/reception" in 1995, for her 'foster son' Sudhagaran
Jayalalithaa has alternated in power with her rival, 94-year-old DMK party leader M Karunanidhi, who made his presence felt in the Tamil cinema as a playwright and screenwriter. 
Together AIADMK and DMK and their coalition members are referred to as the Dravidian parties - because of the similarities of their ideals and goals - who have ruled Tamil Nadu for the past 50 years. 
Vasan had initially thought of throwing his lot with the ruling AIADMK hoping to make a “change from the inside”.
But after weeks of negotiations, Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress joined the DMDK-led People's Welfare Front or PWF - also known as the Vijayakanth Front.
His party will contest 26 seats within the PWF front led by the notable Tamil actor Vijayakanth. A third party in the front is MDMK helmed by V Gopalsamy, also known as Vaiko.
The three “V’s” form a new third coalition in next month’s polls to challenge the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK whom they have accused of ruining the state for over five decades with alleged corruption and misgovernance.
“We are not only going to promise change but deliver it,” said the soft-spoken Vasan, whose political pedigree is legendary in India. 
Vasan, 52, is the son of the late Congress leader and all-India political troubleshooter, G. K. Moopanar, who until today is admired for his work in the backrooms with warring factions of political parties.
Like his father, who shunned the prime-ministership of India once offered by the powerful Gandhi clan, Vasan has no aspiration to be Tamil Nadu’s chief minister, at least not yet. He is also not running as a candidate opting to steer his party towards the promised change rather than be bogged down by parliamentary obligations.
Vasan termed the agreement between the parties in the People’s Welfare Front alliance as “historic” and said it was the “foundation for change of government in Tamil Nadu after a gap of 50 long years”.
While some political pundits in India feel that it will be an uphill task for any party or coalition to unseat incumbent Jayalalaithaa’s AIADMK, a mood for change is palpable in Tamil Nadu, primarily because of the moribund administration of the two major Dravidian parties over the last 50 years.
And that is what Vasan hopes to ride on with the PWF alliance, which has been steadily increasing its traction in Tamil Nadu.
“There has been extraordinary interest in my party and the PWF over the past month and this is evidence that people want to see change in Tamil Nadu,” said Vasan.
Like in the other states holding elections, fighting corruption is a key issue in Tamil Nadu.
Vijayakanth, the lead voice of the People’s Welfare Front (PWF) said the ruling party and the opposition had cheated the people of Tamil Nadu for decades. 
“This is a battle between good and evil. This alliance is an alternative to the corrupt parties that have left the people confused,” he told a recent gathering.
He and Vasan have been urging voters, especially the young, to cast ballots in the election to end corruption.
If they succeed, there is a high likelihood of a hung Legislative Assembly, which could provide the catalyst for change in Tamil Nadu.
“There are other issues that Tamil Nadu needs to address as well, like implementing good governance, stopping the nepotism and false promises and addressing the issue of suicides by farmers who can’t repay loans,” he said.
Last week, when releasing his party’s manifesto, Vasan vowed to look after the well being of Sri Lankan Tamils; take steps to force the Central government to solve all issues pertaining to fishermen, who are harassed by neighboring Sri Lanka’s fisheries patrols and give priority to educational and agriculture issues, and put a focus to revamp Tamil Nadu’s police department.
The main Dravidian parties have instead opted to handing out TV sets and cell phones to attract votes, while regurgitating promises of old, including imposing a ban on liquor sales in the State; an issue that was championed by the Vijayakanth Front.
Incumbent chief minister Jayalalitha’s vow to make Tamil Nadu a dry state is viewed as an example of hypocrisy and desperation by many as her key party supporters are heavily involved in the manufacture and sale of liquor.
“Many commentators say it is just a poll gimmick and she (Jayalalithaa) would never implement the liquor prohibition as she opposed it all the time and even recently she said in the assembly that it is impossible to ban liquor in the state,” the Asian Tribune said in an opinion piece.
The corruption-free image of the leaders of the People’s Welfare Front and the legacy of their forefathers’, especially Vasan’s trouble-shooting dad Moopanar, has been steadily attracting a new bank of voters, especially youth and women, in Tamil Nadu.
Veteran political watcher N. Jaynardhanam, 79, said he is excited about the winds of change blowing across his homeland.
“I have known Vasan since he was a young man and like his father he is a sincere and trustworthy person,” said the Mahabalipuram-based hotelier.
“His family has done a lot of charitable works and I believe that the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu is at the core of his heart.”
Jaynardhanam hopes change in Tamil Nadu will reduce red tape and get rid of rogues in the state’s administration and police force.
“Sometimes even the most simplest issues cannot be resolved without bribery and influence peddling,” said Jaynardhanam, referring to the parking woes in his ancient historic town, famed for its rock art dating back to the 5th century.
“We have asked for a proper parking area for tourists but the matter has been tied up with different level of governments for years,” he said.
“These are small changes that can make a big difference,” added Jaynardhanam.
That’s exactly what Vasan wants to do – deliver change and make a difference for Tamil Nadu. 
– Matapress News Service with agencies