On March 12 morning, as expectations about the rise of a new force in Tamil Nadu politics were rising, Chennai’s Poes Garden once again became a beehive of activity. The lull the neighbourhood was in after the death of its most famous resident, former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, was broken by troops of young men on motorcycles waving flags.
The flags had blue, white and red horizontal stripes, and a star at the centre with Rajinikanth’s face embossed on it. As the Tamil superstar prepared to make a big announcement about his long-delayed political entry, his Raghavendra Avenue residence became the centre of action for workers of the Rajini Makkal Mandram. Rajini met with the district chiefs of the Mandram, which was launched in 2018 to prepare the ground for his political debut, and then left for a five-star hotel a few kilometres away.
As his black Audi approached the hotel’s entrance, frenzied fans carrying colourful bouquets mobbed it and slogans rent the air. On the dais, also decorated with flowers, stood a lone podium, indicating that the event would be like a Rajini film—a one-man show.
But, to the dismay of some supporters, the 69-year-old actor did not stick to the usual script. Clad in white kurta-pyjama, Rajinikanth ended up delivering a 30-minute emotional monologue, saying he wanted the people to lead him than the other way around. Neither did he announce the launch of his party, nor did he reveal his political agenda. “Let there be a people’s movement,” he said, thumping the lectern in his signature style. “I will come then.”
Rajinikanth outlined three ‘novel’ proposals. “A limited number of party posts to curb corruption and abolition of party posts after the elections,” he said. “Then, reducing the age limit for party positions and bringing in youngsters to the corridors of power. Third, I will not be chief minister.”
That left supporters confused. “We welcome his proposals,” said R.S. Rajan, joint secretary of the Mandram in Kanyakumari. “What is disturbing is the one suggestion that he will not be chief minister. He has put forth his political vision, though. If political change doesn’t happen now, it will never happen. We have already started working towards taking his vision to the people.”
Through posters, public meetings and door-to-door visits, Rajinikanth’s supporters are projecting him as an icon of change. “His proposals are welcomed by the people,” said V.V. Subramaniam, a Mandram leader from Vellore. “Every youngster who wants change will accept his proposals, and this will galvanise the fence-sitters and neutral voters.”
Rajinikanth himself, however, is mindful of the pitfalls of entering politics. “I can’t just be a vote splitter with 10 or 20 per cent votes,” he said in his speech. “I will turn 71 next year. I can’t wait for the next election to win.”
He will have to secure at least 35 per cent votes to come to power in the state. The DMK-led coalition won about 53 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha elections last year, and the AIADMK-led alliance still continues to hold close to 30 per cent votes. Rajinikanth has been a vocal critic of both the dravida parties, but he has been all praise for the political models propounded by leaders like C.N. Annadurai of the DMK and M.G. Ramachandran of the AIADMK. Also, apart from his stress on “spiritual politics”, he has not made it clear what sets him apart from other politicians.
“He seems confused,” said Kolahala Srinivas, a political commentator who withdrew his support to Rajinikanth after the March 12 announcement. “It is he who needs to create the ground for the movement or the political change he proposes.”
Though his proposals are well-intentioned, Rajinikanth appears strangely averse to leading from the front. “[His demand for a people’s movement for political change] is like looking at options for a graceful exit,” said veteran journalist S.P. Lakshmanan. “He proposes a dual-leadership policy, which means someone he points at will be made chief minister, and he will lead the party without even launching it. This reveals his unpreparedness to take up the political challenge. This continued inconsistency is a dampener for his fans, who have been expecting his political debut for more than 25 years.”
Sources say Rajinikanth is under immense pressure from hindutva groups to launch a political party and prevent the AIADMK and the DMK from coming to power in 2021. Some RSS ideologues apparently wanted him to put in action his promise of pursuing spiritual politics. But Rajinikanth, who had hired pollsters to gauge public support, reportedly felt that the time was not ripe for the plunge. Sources said he wants to further test the waters with his three proposals.
The BJP, which had been struggling to gain a toehold in the state, is reportedly now looking past Rajinikanth. “The party was never banking on him,” said Srinivas. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah may be his well-wishers, and so are many senior leaders in the BJP’s state unit. But that does not mean the party is backing Rajinikanth.”