Hectic parleys are on in the camps of matinee idols Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who have declared their intentions of launching their respective political parties and fight the next Assembly election.
Though both the actors are yet to announce the names and manifestoes of their political outfits, both of them are in the process of setting up booth-level party infrastructure in all the Assembly constituencies.
While Rajinikanth is advised and counselled by political commentators Tamilaruvi Manian, a former senior leader of the Indian National Congress and S Gurumurthy, RSS ideologue and chief editor of popular Tamil political weekly Tughlaq (though both deny that they are Rajinikanth’s advosors), Kamal Haasan is believed to be advised by Marxists, Maoists and Dravidians.
Rajinikanth has not made any political statements till date except telling that he was totally disenchanted with the ‘prevailing system’. He has not blamed any political leaders or political parties. “We do have good leaders like MK Stalin and Anbumani Ramadoss. But the system has become rotten and they find themselves in a helpless situation,” Rajinikanth had said while addressing his supporters at Chennai on the New Year Eve.
Though the DMK and other parties charge him with maintaining close liaison with the BJP, Rajinikanth has not reacted. As an indication to his followers, Rajinikanth has removed all religious symbols from the emblem of his fans association. Care has been taken to give representation to all religions and communities while nominating district level office bearers of the fan’s association. “The BJP is trying to make an entry into Tamil Nadu through Rajinikath,” Stalin, the DMK leader has repeatedly said many times about the political ambitions of Thalaivar, as Rajinikanth is addressed by fans and followers.
Kamal Haasan is also deriving maximum media coverage in the run-up to the launching of his political outfit. On February 21, he will launch a journey from Paramakkudy in Ramanathapuram where he was born. The journey named Naale Namathe (Tomorrow is Ours ) is an effort to meet the people all over the State and to get the first hand information from them about their needs and necessities,” Kamal Haasan told his followers recently.
He has also made it clear that he would be opposing the BJP and the Hindutwa politics. “I do not think Rajinikanth is free from the influence of saffron and hence there is no possibility of an alliance with him,” Haasan had said.