JOIN USTiming is suspect in 'deserving honour' for Rajinikanth
By awarding the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Rajinikanth, the BJP has managed to bring the Tamil superstar back into the limelight just six days before Tamil Nadu votes to elect its 16th Assembly.
The actor himself would have not liked this focus in the midst of the election season – he was away from the public glare since December last year following a short stay at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad due to fluctuation in his blood pressure. Many argue Rajinikanth certainly deserves the recognition, but raise questions on the timing— Tamil Nadu votes on April 6.
In fact, political observers feel the timing of the announcement will embarrass the actor himself as it comes just a few days before the crucial elections, raising questions on the intent of the BJP government. They said the move was aimed at reaching out to the actor’s fans to put their weight behind the AIADMK-BJP alliance. But Rajinikanth himself has refrained from supporting any political party this election after he pulled out of politics.
“They (BJP) wooed him till the doctors ruled him out. And now the award comes just days before the elections. Why the award was bestowed at this time is clear, they (BJP) are hoping his fans will support,” senior journalist R Bhagwan Singh told DH. Prof Ramu Manivannan, Head of Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Madras, said the move was nothing but aimed at garnering votes.
“I think this is nothing but vote bank politics. I think the BJP wants Rajinikanth’s fans to vote for the ruling alliance. It looks like the BJP will continue to chase him how much ever he tries to run away from them. This development is unlikely to change anything in the way Tamil Nadu votes,” Manivannan added. It is no secret that Rajinikanth dealt a body blow to the BJP when he announced on December 29, 2020, that he will not keep his date with politics owing to his ill-health. The BJP, which hardly has any base in Tamil Nadu, was hoping to ride on the shoulders of the popular actor to emerge as an alternative to Dravidian parties who have been ruling the state alternatively since 1967.
After having been left high and dry, the BJP affirmed its alliance with the AIADMK and is now contesting in 20 assembly constituencies. Opinion polls have projected a defeat for the AIADMK-BJP alliance with DMK coming back to power after 10 years.