Rajinikanth's stand tilts scales in Tamil Nadu

MANDATE 2004

Actor Rajinikanth's announcement that his vote is for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has increased his circle of influence in Tamil Nadu.

Before this announcement yesterday, the mass appeal of Rajinikanth was expected to work only against the Paatali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in the state. This meant damage to the Congress-DMK-PMK-MDMK coalition was restricted only to six constituencies, where the PMK was contesting.

Rajinikanth's pronouncements in support of the BJP may not play a decisive role in the Lok Sabha elections, but, a mere five to six per cent shift in votes could see the DMK's worst fears come true.

S Gurumurthy, convener of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch says: "We do not need Rajini to lure 20 per cent of the electorate. A mere five to six per cent shift in votes will be sufficient to turn the wheels of fortune in favour of the NDA."

According to him, this recent development has brought in an "atmospherical change," leaving more people discussing the role of the film star in this election. This, he believes, will work in favour of the NDA.

Political observers believe that Rajinikanth's unstated support to the BJP is directed at an estimated 60 per cent of non-committed voters.

Gurumurthy says, "He (Rajinik-anth) will not be able to change the mind of the pro-DMK or pro-AIADMK voters. But he is quite likely to exert influence on the non-committed voters which form a huge part of the electorate."

Experts may disagree on the exact percentage of the non-committed vote bank, but would agree that this section forms over 51 per cent of the total number of voters in the state, he added.

H Raja, state general secretary and deputy leader for BJP in the Assembly said: "Voting preference is a secret and a sacred one. The fact that Rajinikanth has come out openly saying his vote is for the BJP-led coalition, is a clear message to his fans and people across the state to vote for the NDA. After this announcement, I will not be surprised if the NDA gets a sweeping majority in the state."

The irony that has set in after the actor's statement yesterday is that, he will be casting his vote in favour of an AIADMK candidate. Rajini-kanth will be casting his vote from the Chennai central constituency where the contest is between the AIADMK and the DMK. Hence when the actor said his vote was for the BJP, he was technically wrong.

It is known that Rajinikanth and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa have had their differences in the past.

Hence the actor had to bury differences with the chief minister, keeping in mind the larger interest of the NDA returning to power.

Raja says, "This was a supreme sacrifice he had make to help NDA return to power."

The DMK leadership however does not believe that the actor's statement will have any impact on the parties fortunes in the state. Addressing the media in Salem on Sunday, DMK president, M Karunanidhi shot down the actor's statement while reminding the electorate that the river-linkage project which Rajinikanth was praising the BJP for, was actually the DMK's idea mooted way back in 1969.