In an unexpected move, the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday, cleared a proposal to hold indirect elections in the state to posts of Corporation Mayors and Chairpersons of Municipalities and panchayats. Sources in the AIADMK say that ordinance regarding the elections will be passed this week in an Assembly session.
This decision from the ruling AIADMK comes just a fortnight ahead of the announcement of dates for the local body polls. When passed, the ordinance will apply to 15 corporations, 121 municipalities and 528 town panchayats. For the last three years, Tamil Nadu has not held local body elections. The delay according to the government was due to a delimitation process that was underway in the state.
Even as late as October, the state government had maintained that direct elections will be held for the Mayoral post. This after Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami had in January 2018 reverted to holding direct elections for the Mayoral and Chairperson posts. In the last two decades the DMK and AIADMK have constantly changed the method of choosing a Mayor alternating between direct and indirect elections. In indirect elections, the elected councillors will vote to select a candidate for the Mayoral post.
AIADMK had even collected applications from members this year f It has been two years since actor Rajinikanth announced that he will be venturing into politics and starting his own party in Tamil Nadu. In the months that followed December 2017 though, these words have rung hollow, what with his multiple movie commitments and refusal to divulge a date for the political action to begin.
But on Tuesday, statements made by MNM chief Kamal Haasan and actor turned politician Rajinikanth have sparked conversation yet again of the latter’s definite plunge into the political battlefield. And this time, it’s with a hint of an alliance between the two most popular movie stars in the state.
Speaking to the media at the airport, the MNM chief had said, “If the need comes for us to get together (in politics) then we will… For the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu, we can take this journey together.”
Hours later, Rajinikanth echoed this sentiment in Poes Garden.
“For the benefit of the people, if there is a situation to form alliance with Kamal Haasan, we will definitely come together,” he affirmed.
And according to MNM insiders, these statements were made after careful deliberation. In fact, on November 8, when Kamal Haasan unveiled a statue of their mutual mentor K Balachander at his production company, Raaj Kamal Films International, the two stars were already discussing the possibility of working together. The event kicked off a weeklong celebration of Kamal Haasan’s 65th birthday.
An MNM leader, on the condition of anonymity, says, ” We as a party are yet to completely deliberate this decision. But Rajinikanth and Kamal are making similar statements after a clear conversation during the celebration of the MNM chief’s birthday.”
He further adds that since the statements were made, men and women approached to join the party have changed their tone.
“Initially we were trying to convince them to join us. But today, people are calling us,” he says. “MNM has already got a 4% vote share in Lok Sabha polls and if Rajinikanth shows his support the numbers will jump further,” he adds.
Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam’s Tamilaruvi Manian, a confidante of Superstar Rajinikanth, tells TNM that if the two actors come together they will form a formidable alliance.
“This announcement itself does not come as a surprise to me,” he says. “Rajinikanth has said before that he has no objection to joining hands with Kamal. If they stand together in front of an electorate, it will definitely have an effect,” he adds.
However, Tamilaruvi says the announcement by the two leaders cannot be taken as a confirmation of their alliance.
“There are 1.5 years left for the election and yes, Rajinikanth will form his front in 2020. But we cannot tell who will agree to be in alliance with his leadership and who will not,” he says.
When asked about the ideological differences between the two leaders, Tamilaruvi says, “The only difference is that Rajinikanth is a theist and Kamal is an atheist. They both want a transparent government without corruption. They are both against the existing Dravidian parties. Any attempts to paint him a certain colour is to eliminate his fan base amongst minorities and Scheduled Castes. But Rajinikanth doesn’t want to lose any votes, so he will be inclusive.”
The MNM source meanwhile points out that when the PMK and AIADMK, which were sparring just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, could form an alliance, Rajinikanth and Kamal who have been nothing but respectful towards each other, can too.
But if such an alliance were to be formed, who will be the leader?
“This will not be without challenges,” says the MNM insider. “But both the leaders are mature enough to put people first. They are not entering politics for money or for fame. They already have these. So they will take a decision as per the circumstances then. But their coming together, will usher in a state of good politics in Tamil Nadu.”
Source: The News Minute