TN turf war heats up as Rajini, Haasan up ante

The turf war for the political space in Tamil Nadu got intense by Tuesday as leaders of the ruling AIADMK and Opposition DMK took strong objection to the statement made by superstar Rajinikanth on Monday that he would occupy the vacuum created by the exit of DMK chief M Karunandhi and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. “There is leadership vacuum in Tamil Nadu following the retirement of DMK chief M Karunanidhi and the demise of J Jayalalithaa. It is this leadership which I am trying to fill to offer the people of the State with good governance,” Rajnikanth had said while addressing the students of ACS Medical College in the city late Monday evening.

The leadership of the DMK and the ruling AIADMK were upset over this statement by the superstar and they fielded second rung leaders of the parties to negate the impact. “Let him speak about MGR or Jayalalithaa but not about  the DMK. There is no leadership in vacuum in the DMK,” said VP Doraisamy, deputy general secretary of the DMK. D Jayakumar, Finance Minister and the official spokesman of the Tamil Nadu Government said nobody would take Rajinikanth seriously .

But the speech delivered by the actor has been an instant hit with youngsters. “You can cast your votes to the candidates of your choice.  But don’t spoil your career by jumping into politics right now. Your prime responsibility is to study and that’s why your parents have sent you to schools and colleges. Never let them down. Study well and make your future secure,” the actor told the students and also reminded them how he missed school life because of politics. Rajinikanth also asked them to study English so that they could go places like Sunder Pitchai of the Google and former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan, his rival, who recently launched the outfit Makka Neethi Maiyam, held an interactive session with students at his office in Chennai on Tuesday where he answered queries put up by them.

“Rajini’s words may appeal to women as he was pleading with his followers to look after their families well. What he told the students and youth is equally  important. But it is too early to tell whether Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan would make any impact in Tamil Nadu politics. This is the formative period for them,” said T Ramakrishnan, a leading political commentator.

Haasan , who is having a running battle with the AIADMK is certain of casting  his lot with a front that include the DMK, the Congress, the Lefts, the VCK, the Muslim League and certain fringe Tamil chauvinist leaders like Francis Ceeman. .

“The PMK led by Dr Ramadoss too may join the DMK front though party founder Ramadoss has declared that his party would not align with the AIADMK or the DMK,” said N Kalyanasundaram, Tamil Nadu’s political chronicler.