Actor Rajinikanth, 70, has decided to opt for electoral politics for health reasons. (Archive)
New Delhi / Hyderabad:
Veteran Congressional Leader P Chidambaram expressed happiness that his friend, Rajinikanth, had decided not to enter politics due to his health, said the 70-year-old superstar was a “devout Hindu, but a secular man” and that he was little likely to support the BJP. .
The reaction was one of many that came from political parties in Tamil Nadu, where elections are due to take months and alliances have begun to show tension.
Rajinikanth’s decision to stay away from electoral politics, taken days after being hospitalized amid a coronavirus scare, has created rumors about who the 70-year-old would support to “serve the people without going into politics.” , as he said in his emotional letter published today.
“I am happy for Mr. Rajinikanth. I have been his friend for many years, since 1996. I had previously warned him that he should not enter politics directly … He was a strong moral influence in 1996, and may still be a strong moral influence and ethics in 2021 and into the future, “Chidambaram told NDTV.
When asked if he would back the BJP, as the party had hoped before the elections in Tamil Nadu, where his prospects appear to have run into troubled waters due to differences with his ally AIADMK, Chidambaram said: “I am sure he will count on his support for the parties that oppose the BJP. “
“He is a devout Hindu, but secular. His broad fanatic support is made up of Dalits, OBC, minorities. He understands the plight of the lower classes of India,” said the former finance minister, who has severely criticized the administration’s decisions. national.
The BJP has chosen to remain aloof on the issue as a “practical party” but said the decision will definitely bring relief to the two pillars of Tamil Nadu politics: the AIADMK and the DMK.
“Both AIDMK and DMK would have breathed a sigh of relief as he would have eaten their votes. National parties have no control in Tamil Nadu … BJP is not disappointed … Tamil Nadu is known to be a state where many stars filmmakers have become successful politicians … We know how Jayalalithaa, Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi), MGR came to power and how people adored them. They saw Mr. Rajinikanth as perhaps the only person who could replace them … a new style of government free of corruption and many other evils that seem to have befallen Tamil Nadu, ”said Lalitha Kumaramangalam of the BJP, who has no representation in the state Assembly.
“At some point before the elections you can come forward (and support a party). But this is all speculation,” he added.
Wanting to avoid a repeat of 1996, when Rajinikanth’s statement “If Jayalalithaa is rejected, not even God can save Tamil Nadu” resulted in his defeat, the AIADMK responded by saying that the superstar’s influence was “overrated”.
AIADMK spokeswoman Apsara Reddy said: “I have always expressed my concern for his health and wish him well. He should have launched his party to have a significant impact as a politician. We exaggerate it as a political product. If it were a machine. if they got votes all his films would have worked well. Politically, he was not a great threat to us at least. The last two governments were progressive governments of Mrs. Jayalalithaa and the people would not have voted for him in terms of leader. “
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