Vijayakanth says he won despite caste factor

Chennai, May 11 (UNI) Actor-turned=politician Vijayakanth, who made it to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, today assured that his new party, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), would raise the genuine problems of the people in the House.

Talking to reporters here today, a triumphant Vijayakanth thanked the people for voting for his just six-month old party in large numbers. In Vridhachalam he had won 'as people voted for him irrespective of caste and creed,' he stressed.

Just like the AIADMK had made inroads into the DMK bastion of Chennai, he too had been elected in Vridhachalam. (Vijaykanth is a Naidu, while the area is dominated by Vanniyars.) Mr Vijayakanth said he would try his best to sort out the issues facing the people of his constituency and would also attempt to establish new colleges and industrial units.

He expressed happiness that Tamil Nadu had the opportunity to have a coalition government.

Asked how many seats he expected the DMDK, which contested 232 seats, to win, he replied, 'We expected five to 10.' The outcome of the election showed that the people of Tamil nadu, who voted for the two major Dravidian parties alternately, were willing for a change.

The party has emerged third in a large number of constituencies.

To a query if he had greeted DMK chief M Karunanidhi for the massive victory in person, he said he would write to him.

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