TIRUVANNAMALAI: It comes as no surprise that most people in the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) are ardent fans of ‘Captain’ Vijaykanth. Newly-elected Chengam MLA Suresh Kumar takes it a notch higher by saying he is a “devotee” of the action star-turned-opposition leader, “I have been Captain’s ardent fan for 27 years now,” proclaims the 46-year-old MLA with child-like animation.Despite being the deputy state secretary of the DMDK, the post that Suresh cherishes most is heading the district Vijaykanth fan club for over two decades. A former Karate master who works as a labour contractor, he rues the fact that after entering politics his body isn’t as fit as it once was.Contesting from the Chengam (reserved) seat for the second successive time, Suresh defeated Congress heavyweight Selvaperunthagai, in what was seen as a local upset. After the late Polur Varadhan had retained the constituency from 2001 till his demise earlier this year, it was considered a Congress stronghold. Hailing from Tiruvannamalai, meant that people saw Suresh as a son of the soil, as opposed to Selvaperunthagai, a recently de-seated MLA hailing from Kancheepuram. “When Captain told me to contest, he told me to win. I have fulfilled that wish,” he rejoices.On a whirlwind tour of all the villages in Chengam, to thank voters for the victory margin of 11,000 votes they handed him, Suresh is en route to addressing Chengam’s largest grouse of MLAs past, “For a decade their MLA lived in another place and the people had no means to visit him. During my campaign my biggest promise was that anyone could walk into the MLA’s office for help at any time,” he says, with assurance. In that regard, the Chengam MLA office that has remained shut for the last decade has been renovated and opened.Water scarcity and poor drainage are the two other problems he aims to address during his tenure. “Chengam is like a large pocket of agricultural villages. Now that the wells are dry, not only their throats but even their pockets might run dry,” he says with concern. This will be his first order of business during the assembly session, he assures.Having run a threadbare campaign with minimal funds, Suresh believes that austerity and connectivity are the key to good governance, “I have given my mobile number to every house that I campaigned in. Honestly, absolutely anyone can reach me,” he concludes.
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