What alternative will Rajini, Kamal offer to age-old Dravidianism?

The plunge of two Tamil superstars – Kamal Hasaan and Rajinikanth – into Tamil Nadu politics promises to revitalise the political atmosphere of a state where Dravidian parties have held sway for decades. But, even though Hasaan’s brand of politics comes across as rational, and Rajini promises a ‘spiritual’ alternative, experts say both need to first come up with a political ideology that is not borrowed or a motley mix of left and right-wing politics, if they have to win votes in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Sixty-nine-year-old Rajinikanth, after keeping fans guessing for over the quarter of a century, recently announced that he will launch his party in January 2021. However, his choice of party representatives has been dubious.

The actor has appointed Tamilaruvi Maniyan as the party’s supervisor and Arjuna Murthy, who was recently with state BJP unit as the head of its intellectual cell.

While the appointment of Murthy, a pretty unknown face in the state politics is understood, it is still a puzzle why Rajinikanth roped in Manian, known as a man of inconsistencies. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Manian threatened to quit politics. A self-proclaimed Gandhian, Manian has hopped from one party to another over the decades. He started his career with the Congress under the leadership of K Kamraj, only to join the Janata Party after his leader’s death. When Ramakrishna Hegde parted ways with Janata Party to form Lok Shakti, Manian became the state coordinator of the new outfit. He again returned to the Congress following the advice of former state assembly speaker Kalimuthu. He left the party in 2008 due to differences over the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. The next year he floated an organisation called Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam (Gandhian People Movement). In 2013, he launched his movement into a political party called Gandhiya Makkal Katchi. He was critical of both the Dravidian leaders – M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa – and vowed to form a third team in the state. In 2015, he pledged to make MDMK chief Vaiko the chief minister and was instrumental in forming People’s Welfare Front that failed in the 2016 assembly elections.

Manian, who was once critical on the entry of actors into politics, has supported Rajinikanth in the recent years.

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Experts say, despite his idiosyncrasies, Manian’s resolve to bring an alternative to Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu, may have been the driving force behind his induction into the ‘Rajini squad’.

Political analysts say Rajinikanth, who has displayed evident leaning towards right-wing politics, may also borrow a few ideologies along the way. The appointment of leaders like Arjuna Murthy is an indication of that.

The same, however, may clash with the ‘spiritual politics’ – inherently secular in nature – which the actor promised to bring to the state while announcing his desire to enter politics in 2018.

“In a deeper sense, ‘spiritual’ is nothing but ‘looking into our inner selves’. That’s what all our Siddhar songs tells us. But Rajinikanth goes to Himalayas every year and is saying that he will provide ‘secular spiritual politics’. This is meaningless,” countered DMK MP A Raja, in one of the media briefings.

Rajinikanth’s fellow actor Kamal Haasan, who launched his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in January 2018, despite raising his voice on key issues concerning the state, has swayed between Leftist and Dravidian ideologies, confusing supporters about his core beliefs.

His grit to take a stand on issues, however, has earned him the support of the intelligentsia with former bureaucrats like AG Mourya, R Rengarajan and Santhosh Babu of ‘BharatNet’ fame joining MNM.

Political observers say Haasan’s political style resembles that of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with intellectuals forming its core.

“Kamal thinks that he can provide a knowledge-based administration. So he ropes in intellectuals, but there is still space for foot soldiers,” said PR Pandian, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Association.

K Saravanan, a social activist who works towards creating awareness about local body governance says Kamal is a good listener who has shown an interest in knowing issues that affect the masses. “He doesn’t have a ‘I know everything’ attitude,” he said.

Political analysts say both the actors need to work at the grassroots if they want to win the trust of people and strengthen their foundation ahead of the polls. Most importantly, they have to discover their independent political ideologies.

“Presently, they are seen as softer versions of the BJP. While Kamal has taken up issues concerning the Left, he like Rajinikanth has also supported the BJP government’s demonetisation,” K Saravanan said.

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“Also to understand society, they must meet people and travel with them. But both are distant from the ground realities. Their party or the kind of politics is going to be ‘one man show,” he said adding that the actors need to be more than just ‘DMK vote cutters’.

Others say it is too early to predict what kind of politics Rajinikanth will offer as he is yet to launch his party.

“He claims his party will provide spiritual politics which is secular. But only time will tell if he treats all religious equally or just focuses on a single one,” said political observer Raveendran Duraisamy.