DMDK Chief Vijayakant took to berating Rajnikanth in his campaign rally at Tiruttani in Tiruvallur district, subsequently angering many fans of the Superstar. “Vijayakant! Not afraid of anyone. I am good to those who are good (nallavannukku nallavan). I am not afraid like Rajini Annan,“ said Vijayakant, using lines from Rajninikanth's. Vijayakant had spoken in a similar vein during a public meeting in Villivakkam on Friday .
Here were his remarks on Friday: "When (PMK founder) Ramadoss threatened to remove a song from 'Gajendra' (his yesteryear film), I did not accept it. But Rajini did whatever Ramadoss wanted him to," Vijayakant said, referring to the superstar quitting smoking on screen following a suggestion from the PMK leader. "I am not like Rajini, I will not backtrack like him.”
The strong remarks against the actor, however, angered his fans, who set fire to his effigy in Kodungaiyur in Chennai. Police said a group of 11 fans, led by Rajini Kannan, shouted slogans in Meenambal Salai after setting on fire an Vijayakant effigy. Before police could nab them, they fled. Police are yet to register a case. Shortly thereafter, there was frenzied tweeting of Vijayakant's remarks on Twitter, with many demanding an apology from the DMDK Chief.
"Only recently, Vijayakant's wife Premalatha unnecessarily pulled Rajini's name by quoting our Thalaivar's 1996 remarks that 'no one could protect Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa comes to power again'. Those comments were made based on the political situation of the mid 1990s. Now Vijayakant has criticized Rajini only for the sake of publicity. He should first answer to innumerable charges on him before pointing fingers at our Thalaivar,” a Rajini fans club office-bearer posted on Facebook.