Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are banking on their fandom in Tamil Nadu

The mobilisation of fans and like-minded social workers, is drawn as a parallel to how M G Ramachandran had mobilised his fans

Over five months ago on November 7, 2017, actor Kamal Haasan announced his entry into politics with plans to fight against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the two giants in Tamil Nadu. On December 31, after much deliberations, actor Rajini-kanth also announced to join the “war” or politics soon.

On February 22, 2018, Haasan launched his party, Makkal Neethi Maiyam (People’s Justice Centre) in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and fans in Madurai. He has started meeting people, especially youths, at his office in Chennai and a selection process is on for his party functionaries across the state. He has also announced a set of party functionaries from various walks of life, including writers, industrialists and from the film industry, to act as spokespersons.

Regular interviews are also on in the other camp, where Rajini-kanth’s functionaries are speaking with aspirants from various parts of the state to form Rajini Makkal Mantram (Rajini People’s Association), resonating the Rajini Rasigar Mantram (Rajini Fans Association), which the actor had floated several years ago. The effort is to create chapters of the Mantram in every nook and corner of the state; some have even been formed in Bahrain and the United States.

According to those who are close to the development, around 50,000 such groups will be formed to revive the fans association of Rajini-kanth. These smaller groups are expected to be part of a larger movement, once it is announced. 

This, the mobilisation of fan and like-minded social workers, is drawn as a parallel to how M G Ramachandran had mobilised his fans when he left the DMK in 1972 and formed the AIADMK. A movement spearheaded by actor Vijayakanth, who formed the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2005, is also in the recent history.

“There are struggles behind all the political parties. But these two individuals (Haasan and Rajinikanth) suddenly jumped into the fray, simply because there is a vacuum (created by the demise of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa and the ill health of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi),” said G Palanithurai, professor of political science, Gandhigram Rural University, and author of several books on Tamil Nadu politics.

Rajinikanth’s latest post on Twitter seeking a stringent law to punish the perpetrators of the attack on a policeman on duty during the Cauvery protest in front of the Chepauk Stadium had been observed as a comment without the knowledge of the ground reality or the magnitude of the agitation, political experts say. Haasan’s rather intellectual appeal to PM Narendra Modi for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board was also not something people expect from a strong leader, they say.

According to some experts, these two actors are trying to build their parties from the middle and not from the grassroots. In a business parlance, if these two parties are considered to be start-ups, people are waiting to see their products first and then to decide on buying those. While some experts say more time should be given to these new outfits, others feel Tamil Nadu is seething and it’s time for a leader to emerge if there is one.

“So far, both have not really articulated a well-thought-out vision for the state, of what they stand for on key issues. It is still reactive or a mish-mash of random statements. The ‘product’ still is not clear, unique and differentiated, and is largely dependent on their onscreen personas,” said Chandu Nair, an angel investor and advisor for entrepreneurs.

It is also to be seen whether Haasan’s party would join hands with Rajinikanth’s party, once the latter announces it. Haasan earlier had reportedly favoured such a move.

“If Makkal Mantram is going to be the political party,  Rajinikath needs other leaders and people with administrative experience and experience with various kinds of activities,” says Sumanth C Raman, a political commentator. “We need to give both some more time.”

It is a little early to comment on that.” 

"The state is currently facing several issues, including delay by the central government in forming the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), allegations of the incumbent AIADMK government being weak and following the tows of the BJP, and growing protest against the copper smelter plant and its expansion plans in Thoothukudi. It is time for alternate politics to emerge," says Palanithurai. "However, so far neither Rajinikanth nor Hassan is offering what a chief ministerial candidate should," he adds.