Rajnikanth has in the past supported the DMK. Way back in 1996 and 1998, he had supported the DMK-TMC alliance. In this scenario, if he moves closer to the BJP, then this will mark a great change in both his political stand as well as the nature of Tamil Nadu's politics
Everyone is keeping an eye on Tamil superstar Rajnikanth. When Narendra Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, recently visited Tamil Nadu, posters of Modi with Rajnikanth were put up. Though Rajnikanth didn’t turn up for the rally, the party gave indications that talks were on and the superstar could help the BJP in the elections. Sources close to Rajnikanth, however, say that nothing has been finalised yet.
This time many Tamil stars will be in the electoral arena. It is said that Vijay, who has given many superhit films down South, may fight the elections. MDMK leader Vijaykanth, too, wants to contest this time. With the Congress holding talks with Vijay and Vijaykanth, it will be interesting to see Ranjikanth’s next move.
Rajnikanth has in the past supported the DMK. Way back in 1996 and 1998, he had supported the DMK-TMC alliance. In this scenario, if he moves closer to the BJP, it would mark a great change in both his political stand as well as the nature of Tamil Nadu’s politics.
Third Front dilemma
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has recently said that the Third Front will be formed after the 2014 lok Sabha elections. However, speculations are rife that the alliance may come up before the polls. A prominent leader of the left says that there is no substance in Yadav’s claim that if the front is formed before the elections there would be a lot of problems in the distribution of tickets. He says that all regional parties are confined to a particular area. “So Nitish Kumar and lalu Prasad Yadav won’t go out seeking tickets in Uttar Pradesh, and Mulayam won’t go to Odisha,” says he.
The left parties want the Third Front to be formed before the elections. CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury is one such leader who wants to see a pre-poll alliance. This, he believes, will bring anti-Congress, anti-BJP votes to the Third Front. Yechury is already in talks with several regional leaders like Sharad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, N Chandrababu Naidu and J Jayalalithaa. Most of these leaders have given him assurances but told him to wait till the Assembly elections get over in five States.
NEW EQUATION IN Andhra
The three leaders, who are opposing the division of Andhra Pradesh, have managed to create a new political equation in Seemandhra. Speculations are rife as to what the equation will be. It is said that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu are already in talks for some sort of alliance. Two Congress MPs have alleged that it was the Chief Minister who had given Naidu the permission to sit on fast at the Andhra Bhawan.
Earlier it was being said that Jaganmohan Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu might come together, but now there is very little chance for this to happen. Currently, the three leaders are pursuing anti-Congress politics, so their options to join the NDA remain open. While Naidu is said to be in touch with several prominent BJP leaders, Jaganmohan Reddy, too, has taken a step forward by openly praising Narendra Modi.
CONGRESS AllIANCE on hold
A Congress committee formed to look into the possibilities of an alliance with other parties is sitting idle for a while now. AK Antony has so far convened only one meeting. Sources say that the party is waiting for the Assembly results in five States. Congress leaders feel that if the party performs well in these elections, then many parties will try to form an alliance with it. But if the results don’t go in its favour, then the Congress will have to take initiatives to woo these parties. The Congress leadership believes that good performance in the coming Assembly elections will encourage Nitish Kumar in Bihar and Mayawati to form an alliance with it. But if the results go otherwise, then the Congress will be in for tough times.
For both the scenarios, however, the Congress has probable partners. A senior party leader says that the Congress has more options than the BJP. In Tamil Nadu, he says, the Congress will get one of the two prominent parties — Jayalalithaa’s ADMK or M Karunanidhi’s DMK. In Bihar, if it fails to woo Nitish Kumar, then the lalu option is always there. In West Bengal, it can either go with the Trinamool Congress or the left Front alliance; and, in Andhra Pradesh, it has options in Jaganmohan Reddy and TRS’s K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Wait and watch in UP
What will the Congress do in Uttar PradeshIJ While the preparations of the BJP, SP and BSP are in full swing, the Congress appears to be sitting idle. Press notes are being issued by the party on a daily basis but there is no conspicuous political activity in the State.
State party president Nirmal Khatri hardly stays in lucknow. Even after 13 months of being selected by Rahul Gandhi, he is yet to make a committee of his own. Most State leaders feel that he is not competent enough to manage the affairs of the State. Moreover, his health is not good and he doesn’t have much say in the party. Worse, since the 2012 Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi has not been in the State either.
So, the question is: Will Rahul Gandhi appoint a new president before the electionsIJ Sources in the party claim that it might very well happen. It’s also possible that the party is waiting for an alliance to be finalised. There is a possibility that the Congress may fight the elections in alliance with the BSP and the RlD.
Goa and illegal mining
The CBI has put several BJP leaders in a state of bother. But in BJP-ruled Goa, it’s the other way round: Here, the Congress leaders are facing the music. Two former Chief Ministers are in for a lot of problems. Illegal mining cases have been registered against Digambar Kamat and Vishwambhar Rane. Several Congress leaders are alleging that this is a witch-hunt on the BJP’s part. But Chief Minster Manohar Parrikar, known for his honesty, is not giving any importance to such allegations. In the last election too, illegal mining was a big political issue in Goa. It was then alleged that many Congress leaders and their relatives were involved in the illegal mining. This was one of the main reasons for the defeat of the Congress in the State.