Topic started by bharathputhran (@ 202.142.106.175) on Sun Apr 18 09:22:15 EDT 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
Will Rajni's voice impact voters
After declaring that he would vote for the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)
CHENNAI: Will Rajnikant's latest "voice" become a big hit with the voters in Tamil Nadu?
This was the dominant question in political and media circles in the state after questions like whether 'India was Shining' or not and who among AB Vajpayee or Sonia Gandhi would become the Prime Minister.
"Even if I come late, I will come with the latest," was the matinee idol's punch dialogue in his latest movie, 'Baba.' But a typical Rajnikant, left many questions unanswered when he came out with the latest message last week.
With his running fued with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder-leader S Ramadoss snowballing into a violent incident in Madurai two weeks ago, Rajnikant came out openly to oppose the PMK in five constituencies in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Pondicherry.
After declaring that he would vote for the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) alliance for its "sincere" efforts to inter-link the rivers, the superstar said there was, however, no compulsion on his fans to toe his line.
While being specific in his directive to his 25,000-odd fan clubs in the state to work for PMK's defeat in the six constituencies, the actor left his fans confused saying that Ramadoss was now with his friends (the DMK, the Congress and the MDMK).
The filmstar was opposed to the PMK as Ramadoss, on the eve of the release of 'Baba' in 2002, had publicly condemned his style of acting and accused him of ruining the youth by flicking cigarettes and guzzling liquor in the movie.
However, while taking on the PMK, 53-year-old Rajnikant, who had played a significant role in the 1996 Assembly elections even without his formal entry into politics, made cautious attempts to lower the stakes of his political stance.
While limiting his support for the BJP alliance, Rajnikant also limited his opposition to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), in which the PMK is a constituent.
He neither backed the BJP-AIADMK combine fully nor opposed the DPA outright. This stance clearly showed that he was not willing to risk his stakes, political experts opined.
Pointing to the ambiguity in his latest message, experts felt that Rajnikant's statement only reflected his lack of conviction and ambition to take the final plunge into politics.
It was in the 1996 Assembly elections, he first gave his "voice" saying "even God will not be able to save Tamil Nadu, if Jayalalithaa comes back to power" and pledged his full support to the DMK.
As a strong anti-incumbency wave swept across the state, the DMK stormed back to power and Rajnikant had his share of credit, though political pundits then said even without "Rajni's voice," the DMK would have registered the record victory.
Two years later, in the Parliamentary elections, he backed the DMK alliance, despite a serial bomb blast rocking Coimbatore in western Tamil Nadu, but the AIADMK-BJP combine swept the polls.
This forced Rajnikant to slip into his cocoon of silence in the Parliamentary elections in 1999 and the Assembly elections in 2001.
But, Rajnikant patched up with Jayalalithaa after she won the 2001 Assembly election. The superstar called on the chief minister at her Poes Garden residence with a copy of his latest film 'Baba' and reports tell that the chief minister and Rajni watched the movie together.
Now, he has lent his voice in support of the BJP but faces problems in overcoming the odds against the BJP-AIADMK combine and ensuring its victory.
Aware that the alliance arithmetic is heavily loaded against the combine in view of the DMK sewing up a formidable alliance, he deliberately lowered his stakes.
"For obvious reasons, Rajni limited his support to the BJP and did not back the alliance as a whole," a Congress leader observed.
If the PMK candidates are defeated, the filmstar has to be given his share of credit but if they manage to win, it is sure that the actor's political reputation will take a beating.
All said and done, it remains to be seen whether the "Rajni magic" will cast its spell and if the Vanniars, constituting the PMK, rise above caste considerations and back Rajnikant's call.
Meanwhile, on May 10, when Tamil Nadu goes to polls, Rajnikant will cast his vote in the Central Chennai constituency where AIADMK's N Balaganga is pitted against DPA's Dayanidhi Maran, who is also the son of former Union Minister late Murasoli Maran.
Tell your friend about this topic