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Rajinikanth’s political aspiration throws TN leaders in a tizzy

Superstar Rajinikanth’s subtle hints about joining politics seem to have created quite a buzz in Tamil Nadu’s political scene. Former…

IANS | Chennai | May 19, 2017 12:49 pm

Rajinikanth’s political aspiration throws TN leaders in a tizzy

Superstar Rajinikanth’s subtle hints about joining politics seem to have created quite a buzz in Tamil Nadu’s political scene.

Former Chief Minister and leader of an AIADMK faction, O Panneerselvam, said Rajinikanth was a good leader and anybody can join politics but acceptability has to be decided by the people. However, Panneerselvam denied that Rajinikanth’s entry into politics would affect the prospects of the AIADMK.

Meanwhile, some politicians are of the view that Rajinikanth’s statements on joining politics were an outcome of an uncertainty in the state’s politics in the absence of Jayalalithaa, and DMK patriarch Karunanidhi’s ill health.

“It is natural for Rajinikanth to talk about politics because there is currently a vacuum caused by the death of Jayalalithaa and ill health of Karunanidhi,” said former minister K.P. Munuswamy.

PMK leader and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said “what Tamil Nadu needs is not an actor but a good administrator”. He said that Tamil Nadu has been ruined by actors like MGR and Jayalalithaa, and nowhere in the world have actors ruled a state for more than 40-50 years.

Rajinikanth’s non-Tamilian background has also drawn criticism. Seeman, leader of Naam Thamizhar party, who said that he respected Rajinikanth as an actor, but “the state did not need an outsider as chief minister”.

However, the superstar refuted the criticism at an event on Friday, where he claimed that he was a true Tamilian. “I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. Although I came as a Marathi from Karnataka, you people nurtured me, made me a true Tamilian.”

Referring to his political career, Rajinikanth said, “I have my profession, my job. I have some responsibilities and you have your jobs. Go back to your places and do your job. Let’s meet when it’s time for (political) war.”