Tuesday’s announcement by superstar Rajinikanth that he would make known his political plans on the New Year’s Eve has eclipsed the significance of the surprising victory in the RK Nagar by-poll scored by TTV Dinakaran, the AIADMK rebel. All Tamil TV news channels are seized of the matter which could be understood from the duration of lengthy evening discussions they have set apart for the topic.
On Wednesday, day two of his interaction and photo-ops with fans from various districts in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth said though he has a lot to talk to them, he was reserving the same for another occasion. “I have a request to you all. My humble request to you all is to take care of your families and treat them well. Respect your parents and love your children. Children are your assets. Make sure that they get good education and are well taken care of,” said Rajinikanth in an emotionally choked voice.
While established politicians, especially those belonging to the pro-Dravidian and secessionist parties have questioned the logic behind Rajinikanth’s political ambitions at this age (he turned 67 on December 12) and his political ideology, national parties like the BJP and the Congress are of the view that they do not have any issue in Thalaiva (Tamil for leader, as Rajinikanth is addressed by fans) switching over to the world of real life from reel life.
“We in the Congress do not have any issue in Rajinikanth joining politics or launching his own party. But I cannot say whether he would be a success in politics,” said EVKS Elangovan, former TNCC president and a long time friend of Rajnikanth.
Till date Rajinikanth has made only one political statement. It was during the 1996 Tamil Nadu Assembly election when public resentment against J Jayalalithaa was at its peak because of the opulent marriage she held for TTV Sudhakaran, nephew of VK Sasikala and a host of corruption charges. “If Jayalalithaa wins this election even God may not be able to save Tamil Nadu,” Rajnikanth had said in a video clip which was repeatedly beamed by the TV channel owned by the DMK. Tamil Nadu has been waiting in anticipation for Rajinikanth’s real life character as a politician since 1996.
Some of the Tamil chauvinist organisations, especially the VCK and Naam Tamilar, are vehemently opposed to Rajinikanth’s political innings because of his non-Tamil backdrop. The actor was born Sivaji Gaekwad in a Maratha family but it was people in Tamil Nadu which accorded him a cult status.
“Rajinikanth considers politics is something like a film. But what is his political commitmentIJ What are his views on social inequalities and issuesIJ” asked D Ravi Kumar, a trusted aide of Thol Thirumavalavan of the VCK.
Tamilaruvi Manian, a close associate to Rajinikanth, asked media persons to wait till December 31 to know what the superstar has in store for the people. “It has to be announced by him only. But those who question the political credentials of Rajinikanth stand to lose. He knows Tamil Nadu well and he is aware of the issues haunting the nation as well as Tamil Nadu. You can sit in an air-conditioned room and question Rajinikanth bout his political commitment. But he has more awareness than conventional politicians on these topics,” said Manian.