Chennai, 28 October

Silver traditional lamps engraved with the lotus symbol, gifted by actor Dhanush to women functionaries at a recent fan association meeting, have triggered a political row in Tamil Nadu, with the Congress questioning whether the national award-winning star is part of a BJP strategy to expand its footprint in the state.

The controversy follows a meeting of the Dhanush Narpani Iyakkam (Dhanush Welfare Movement), formerly known as Dhanush Narpani Mandram, at a private college in Thoraipakkam on Sunday. Around 3,000 members attended the event, which has fuelled speculation about the actor's possible entry into politics.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief B Manickam Tagore alleged that the BJP and RSS were pursuing a covert strategy, dubbed "Operation D" or "Plan C", to introduce another film star into state politics and create political turmoil.

The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) also criticised the development. Party general secretary Aadhav Arjuna alleged that new political entrants were being backed by leadership in Delhi, while leader N Marie Wilson asserted that Dhanush could not emerge as a genuine rival to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

However, senior DMK leader S Regupathy said anyone had the right to enter politics in a democracy, asking, "When Vijay can enter politics, why not Dhanush?"