Cautious AIADMK mum on Rajini factor

Immediately after the actor announced his political entry, a few ministers commented on his move and strongly commented that his entry would not have any impact on their party. Except for Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, none of the ministers attacked him vehemently. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, who usually reacts to any criticism refused to be drawn into any controversy over Rajinikanth, despite repeated questions to him on the actor’s comments of corruption

in the state.

Thambidurai alone came down heavily on the actor asserting that a non-Tamil should not aspire to rule the state and raised questions over his stand on the Cauvery imbroglio between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. However, the party leaders had stopped commenting on Rajinikanth after the MLAs’ meeting convened by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

When actor Vijayakanth launched his DMDK, he was able to erode a part of the AIADMK votes playing a crucial role in the party’s defeat in the 2006 Assembly polls and 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Now, there are speculations that Rajinikanth could also cut into the AIADMK support since the party voters are vulnerable to the influence of cinema.

Most of the actor’s fan clubs are located in the western and southern regions, besides Tiruchy which are considered strongholds of the ruling party. In the absence of a charismatic leader, there are predictions that these voters could gravitate towards Rajinikanth. But, the AIADMK functionaries point out that the core voters of the party consider the actor as an opponent of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa ever since his opposition in the 1996 Assembly elections led to the party’s rout and Jayalalithaa’s defeat in the polls.

The ruling AIADMK on Friday issued a whip to all its MLAs to be present in the House for the Assembly session to commence on January 8, Party whip S Rajendran said. He added that they should support all the motions introduced by the government in the Assembly.Following the disqualification of 18 dissident MLAs that sought to change Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, the composition of the House had been reduced to 216 and the ruling party would require a simple working majority of 109 to adopt any resolution including the motion to thank Governor’s customary New Year address in the Assembly.