In Defence of Rajni

Rajnikanth has always been concerned about the welfare of the people

Rajni can give it a sincere try
Rajni can give it a sincere try

If Rajni enters politics, the current Government may not last its full term

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]’m not a fan of Rajni, nor do I speak for him, but I believe, like most people, that he’s basically a good, sincere and pious person, and if he enters politics, he wouldn’t do it for power or material gains, but only to provide good governance to the people of Tamil Nadu.

Rajnikanth may know little about politics, surely not as much as other seasoned political leaders. He has not claimed to know much about politics


A leading Tamil newspaper and TV media group did a fairly extensive survey recently which suggests that if Rajnikanth enters politics forming his own party, he will make a huge impact in Tamil Nadu politics, and may even become the CM, with a near equal possibility that he may not.

All the factions of AIADMK are worried that, if Rajni enters politics, their Government, may not last its full term. Some of them, on the contrary, see the possibility of some kind of political alliance with him, extending their stay in power beyond 2021.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]S[/dropcap]talin may be worried that Rajnikanth could spoil his chances of becoming the next CM. BJP will be hoping that Rajni may join NDA and provide the foothold they badly need in Tamil Nadu. Some of the smaller parties are already afraid that their chances of an alliance (with DMK/ AIADMK) in future could take a beating and so strongly oppose Rajni’s entry, while the other smaller parties hope for an alliance with him, and so cautiously welcome him.


The people are confused but are hopeful.

Let me try to answer some of the criticisms against Rajnikanth.

What does Rajnikanth know about politics?

Rajnikanth may know little about politics, surely not as much as other seasoned political leaders. He has not claimed to know much about politics.

Why has Rajnikanth not taken any position on any of the important political issues so far? Why has he not entered into any political discourse so far?

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]M[/dropcap]ost of the local political leaders have not taken any position against Pakistan for the beheading of Indian soldiers at the border, or against militants in Kashmir for murdering the J&K cop Mohammed Ayub Pandith’s outside Jamia Masjid with stones during Ramzan, or on ever so many questions; can we presume that they are anti-national? People normally take positions only within their current realms.

People were consciously voting for Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi alternatively. As long as these 2 leaders ruled with legitimate power derived from the people, Rajni had no issues


Rajnikanth has always been concerned about the welfare of the people, but he didn’t make any comments on any political issues probably because he’s not expert in these subjects. He knows that experts and politicians are dealing with these issues. Rabble-rousing statements would have helped none of the causes in any way but would have only given room for false speculation about his entry into politics.

Why is Rajni entering politics now, when Jayalalitha is no more, and Karunanidhi is unable to take an active part in politics? Was he afraid of Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi when they were around?

Rajnikanth has not been itching to enter politics so far; had he wanted, he could have easily done so long back. Nor is he keen to become a politician even now. He’s not looking for name, fame or money from politics.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]n 1996 when Jayalalitha was CM and was fighting the state elections, he famously said, “If people vote for Jayalalitha now, even God can’t save Tamil Nadu”, and she was defeated. If he were afraid, he would not have made such a statement then. He is a private person, not given to picking up quarrels with those he knew.


People were consciously voting for Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi alternatively. As long as these 2 leaders ruled with legitimate power derived from the people, Rajni had no issues.

Since Jayalalitha’s mysterious 75-day hospitalization followed by demise, Sasikala usurped power installing Edappadi Palanisamy (EPS) as the CM after the 10-day stay of 100+ MLAs in Koovathur resort. People want this Government to go, but if the MLAs stay together, it could remain in power for another 4 years without honest leadership.

Ranged against this EPS group is the Panneerselvam (OPS) Group, and TTV (Dinakaran) Group, which could bring down the Government, but may not, for fear of letting DMK come to power.

The long and short of all these is that state may rot for the next 4 years.

Ideologically, Rajnikanth looks opposed to DMK, as a corrupt and pseudo-secular party. So, even in the long run, Rajni may not want DMK to come to power either.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]A[/dropcap]nd, many people in Tamil Nadu see a vacuum and look up to Rajni to provide an alternative. A lot of well-meaning leaders (like Cho) have always advised him to enter politics in the national interest, but he was always hesitating, perhaps because he was afraid he may not know enough of politics, and he may not have had the confidence that, if voted to power, the Ministers he appoints would be honest & efficient, and help him provide the alternative people are looking for. You can’t fault him because only fools rush in where angels fear to tread.


So, he has been torn between the dire need to enter politics and his fear of failure.

Typical politicians, in his shoes, would have no qualms because their entry into politics is only for power and money; failing the people would be just a collateral damage. However, for Rajni, fear of failure is only natural.

If Rajnikanth doesn’t know much about politics, and doesn’t have views on most issues, how does he expect to govern the state?

Among Rajni’s friends are many well-meaning, honest and competent political analysts, politicians, bureaucrats and others. He would most likely be guided by a small circle among these. But ultimately, he would take the decisions and own the consequences.

[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]G[/dropcap]iven the very bad situation the state is in, Rajni has now come to the conclusion that he should enter politics and make an honest effort to offer a better alternative to the existing political parties. If he succeeds, the state would benefit. If he doesn’t, it wouldn’t be worse off than the alternatives anyway. So, he has decided to cast aside the fear of failure and take the plunge.


True, much of it is my own conjectures, but I believe I’m on the dot.

Will he really enter politics? If he does, will he come to power? If he does, will his cadres, MLAs, and Ministers measure up to his expectations and help him provide good governance? Your guess will be as good as mine. But since there is not much to lose but a lot to gain, Rajni can give it a sincere try.


Note:
1.The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

An Engineer-entrepreneur and Africa Business Consultant, Ganesan has many suggestions for the Government and sees the need for the Govt to tap the ideas of its people to perform to its potential.
Ganesan Subramanian

3 COMMENTS

  1. Gurumurthy is goading Rajni to enter politics. I do not think Rajni is interested in joining politics.
    In my opinion he should not join and earn a bad name. I do not think he will also be able to do much
    the way things are now in TN.

    • Yes…. even I don’t agree with many points put here….
      Rajni is a puppet in his family’s hands… won’t be able to take a bold move ….when needed… the author above says he is not a rajni fan but I was a rajni fan since my childhood days…
      But recently I got to see that with his working along with pa.ranjith and his team (which has Christians mostly) he also was baptised.. (am not sure if it’s rumour or not) but I always know that Christians want to be in power either through direct means or through indirect means….
      You can see for yourself actor Joseph Vijay, ias sahayam, simbhu, Deepa madhavan Patrick, ragava lawrence to name a few are being asked to by the Chris leaders … and rajni is a concealed target for them because he is known for his spiritual ideas and no one is supposed to know about his recent changes….

    • Also please let’s not give into actors and actresses this time… tamilnadu and Andra only thrive on the idea that cinema is next to godliness…. but now Andra has come out of it… let Tamils also come out of this cini Maya….
      We want performers and not actors….

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