When Thalaiva, the boss, spoke his heart out (or he didn’t?) recently, he talked about changing the “system” and preparing for “a war”. The grapevine since then has been circulating the latest speculation. And that is whether BJP would hop on to the Chennai Express to set a date with Rajinikanth.
Rajini’s speech has thrown up several questions which have very few answers. Will the south screen Don emerge as the BJP’s mascot? The superstar’s close association with Narendra Modi, and his “leanings” towards the BJP have given rise to speculation that he may take the political plunge with blessings from the BJP. Will he make the poll call? Or will he launch his own outfit and become the game changer in Tamil politics?
Already wobbling, a politically uncertain State, Tamil Nadu is fighting to get its stance correct right from the day J Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital. The situation worsened with her demise. Till now, governance has not happened in real terms in the State. After Jayalalithaa’s death, leaders “emerged” in hordes and Paneerselvam tried his best to withstand the onslaught he was subjected to. All said and done, the “vacuum” left behind by the stature of Jayalalithaa can only be filled by a king-sized Rajinikanth.
With Jayalalithaa’s era coming to an end and the ailing DMK leader M Karunanidhi virtually retiring from active politics, Rajini can easily deliver the reverse swing on the volatile pitch in Tamil politics. All said and done, Stalin still has to tread miles before he can confidently say that he is a poll winner on his own. Moreover, the fractured AIADMK camp will continue to feel the aftershocks of Amma’s death for quite some time now. For the BJP, it will be wise to keep DMK at arm’s length and try and install a charismatic leader, obviously not the likes of Paneerselvam. The other problem is Rajini may be in two minds on joining the BJP. This is because, even if the BJP manages to woo Rajini and the actor’s clout is enough to fill the ballot boxes in his favour, ultimately he may lose his identity under the BJP’s nationwide leadership.
Political analysts feel this is the best opportunity for the BJP to make inroads down south, especially in Tamil Nadu, a State that has so vehemently opposed it. And the best “crest” to ride on would be Rajini. It may be noted that the State packs a lethal punch of 39 MPs to the Parliament. This is BJP’s best chance as the political vacuum in the State keeps growing by the day, “and Rajinikanth is the right person for the right party”, Narayan Thirupathy, BJP spokesperson had recently told reporters.
Rajini had earlier expressed his willingness to joining politics, but finally never did. But currently if he thinks otherwise (will he? as a section of trade pundits say), he might be willing to change tack.
During the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Rajini had supported an alliance of BJP and AIADMK. In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi met Rajinikanth at his Chennai house. Though Modi later said they exchanged pleasantries. It is evident, albeit in a veiled manner, that BJP is all out to woo Thalaiva.
BJP’s recent statements have made political parties wary. “Rajinikanth is welcome to join BJP, we have appropriate position for him,” Nitin Gadkari had recently said sparking off a series of speculations about the superstar’s possible entry to Rajneeti through BJP. During Rajini’s rhetoric in recent times, there were flashes of the same scenes and same hysteria in 1996 when he had defied Jayalalithaa.
It may just be a matter of time before the sun sets on his screen career and his political regime may bloom.
