After scoring goals galore and striking success on the silver screen, soccer ace I M Vijayan began a new chapter on Thursday, becoming a primary member of former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunanakaran's National Congress (Indira).
The 36-year-old player, who is also into the business of manufacturing sports goods, said entering politics as a National Congress (I) member was only because of his equation with the veteran leader.
"It is purely because of my close association with the leader (Karunakaran). He was one man who helped me to make it big in soccer and that is why I joined the party," Vijayan told said over phone from his hometown, Thrissur, Kerala.
Vijayan, who is set for another season in Kolkata after signing with former National Football League champions East Bengal, said but for Karunakaran's help he would not have blossomed at all.
"Back in 1986, when I was a 17-year-old, I approached him on the advice of former Kerala DGP M K Joseph and he gave me a job in Kerala Police," Vijayan recalled.
The lanky player, commonly referred to as the 'black pearl', said Kerala Police first give him a chance to be their guest player and once he was an 18-year-old he was recruited as a constable.
"In 1991 when I was about to leave to join Mohun Bagan, he called and wanted me to continue in Kerala. But I had already signed the papers and had to leave. When I came back he gave me promotion as Assistant Sub-Inspector," he said.
"And after winning the 1993 Santosh Trophy in Kochi he gave me a double promotion and gave me the rank of Inspector," Vijayan recalled.
But Vijayan, who is credited with scoring one of the fastest goals in a match, pleaded ignorance about real politics.
"Please. I don't know any politics...," he said adding that he did not have any plans to contest elections on NC (I) ticket.
The star player is also quite a popular actor in Kerala after proving his mettle with some eye-catching performances in the four films he had appeared in so far.
His latest venture 'Ben Johnson' was released two months ago and proved to be a hit at the box office. But Vijayan, who is leaving on July 20 for another stint with the red and gold brigade, said no more productions are in the pipeline.
Asked whether he was ever approached by a political party, including the Congress (I), Vijayan replied in the negative.
"For me there is only Karunakaran and no one else," he said.
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