Rajini keeps cards close to chest on political leaning
CHENNAI: Tamil superstar Rajinikanth appeared ambivalent on Monday when he was asked about an Opposition alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Pary (BJP) in the next general election.
“There are efforts to unite the opposition parties to come under an umbrella to take on the BJP in the coming election. Does this show that the BJP is posing grave threat?” the 67-year-old actor was asked by media at Chennai airport. “That seems to be their thinking, so , maybe it is,” was his cryptic response.
Further, on demonetisation, which he had supported earlier as a welcome and timely initiative to curb black money, the star said, “The way it was implemented was not correct. Its implementation was wrong. ”
In the past, Rajinikanth has been accused by some Tamil parties, including the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), of being a B-team of the BJP. The actor has expressed political ambitions but has refrained so far from converting his fans club, Makkal Mandram, into a formal political party.
Political analysts say the remark cannot be interpreted as Rajinikanth distancing himself from the BJP. “This one-off remark can’t be taken as a statement of his political stance. He continues to live under different shades...,” says Ramu Manivannan, author and professor of political science at Madras University.
BJP leaders expressed surprise at Rajinikanth’s remark, maintained the actor alone could explain what he actually meant. “It was a response to a question and we are not unduly worried,” said a BJP leader who did not want to be identified.