A vocal critic of Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Hassan, AIADMK leader D Jayakumar on Tuesday played down the actor's chances in the next assembly election by drawing an analogy to the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Jayakumkar referred to the rivalry between football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the world cup, apparently to insist that the political fight in Tamil Nadu was confined to archrivals AIADMK and DMK. "FIFA World Cup is happening now. In this, the fight is only between players Messi and Ronaldo. So there is no place for anyone else," he told reporters here.

The Fisheries Minister was responding to a query on Hassan's party song, released yesterday, lyrics of which said it would form the government after the next assembly elections. Earlier, Jayakumar had criticised the actor-cum-politician saying his meeting with political leaders was only to promote his coming movie, Viswaroopam 2.

On Hassan's meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on the Cauvery issue early this month, Jayakumar had said 'hugging therapy' which the actor preached in one of his movies would not work as far as the issue was concerned.