After Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, even actor Prakash Raj has hinted about making a foray into politics. The actor who is known for making bold comments against BJP on social media has said that he will take the political plunge if somebody challenges him to do so. Prakash Raj has always remained vocal about communal forces using violent methods to spread hatred in the society. What is prompting Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Prakash Raj to become so aggressive to make their political debut?
According to political observers, Tamil Nadu is facing leadership crisis after the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Right now there is no able leader to step into Jayalalithaa’s shoes. Even though Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth has made formal announcement about their entry into politics, they are yet to share their political ideology with people. Both of them are immensely popular but will face a tough task ahead in politics as they will have to connect with masses and ensure their popularity translate into votes for them. South India has seen many leaders joining the political bandwagon including J Jayalalithaa, M G Ramachandran and M Karunanidhi, N T Rama Rao and Chiranjeevi. On the other hand, Prakash Raj has been making scathing attacks against BJP but he lacks the charisma of Rajinikanth.
Krishna Hedge, Vice President, BJP Mumbai said that since both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth are icons of Tamil Nadu, their political entry was keenly expected by people. He also said, “According to political experts, there is a vacuum in Tamil Nadu after the sad demise of Jayalalithaa; that might be the reason that Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth had decided to join politics. How much grasp they have over the state, can be ascertained only after the election results.”
“Even though Prakash Raj had mentioned about his political aspirations but he is not a big name as Rajinikanth. It seems that he is involved in a personal rivalry with BJP after the Gauri Lankesh murder incident. While Prakash Raj’s statement seems to be a personal attack against BJP on the other hand Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan speak their political mind,” he added.
C R Saraswathi, Spokesperson of AIADMK said that people will decide the fate of Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth’s political careers. She added, “In a democratic country everyone has a right to speak against the state or central government. If Prakash Raj is unhappy with the central government’s policies like demonetisation and GST and as a citizen if he wants to voice against it, there is nothing wrong. People need not require political affiliation to express themselves against or in support of any government.”
According to her, anybody is free to launch their political party but end of the day, people will decide whom they want to support and who will represent them. “Till date both these leaders have been criticising Tamil Nadu politics but they have not shared their views about the national politics. Let Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth enter the field and share their ideology and people of Tamil Nadu will decide their political future,” she added.
Actor Dalip Tahil said that it is a good sign that Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth are coming forward with their political views. He said, “It’s not a new phenomenon that actors are making foray into politics in southern India. Even in north India many politicians hail from Bollywood industry. Actors enter into politics as they have good mass appeal and massive followers. Rajinikanth is a very big leader in Tamil Nadu. He had inclination towards politics since a very long time and recently he has made a formal announcement. Same with Kamal Haasan as he too was very politically savvy.”
“Prakash Raj is being vocal about the central government and I feel it is his right. As of now he is only criticising the government. So, I can’t predict about his political entry. If he is not satisfied with the government then he has every right to voice against it,” he added.
Here are some of the popular comments posted by Prakash Raj on social media.
BJP workers cleaning and purifying the stage ..from where I spoke in Sirsi town …by sprinkling cow urine (divine gomoothra)…???…will you continue this cleaning and purification service where ever I go….. #justasking pic.twitter.com/zG1hKF8P4r
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 16, 2018
Respected Supreme Court judges take a bow ..for #justasking…a clear message ..that there are people who won’t sell souls..and eventually in cases from justice Loya to Aadhar..CENTER can not hold things falling apart.
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 13, 2018
Yogi ji orders people of Karnataka “don’t celebrate tippu sultan in the land of hanuman” dear sir.. what’s your agenda again…#justasking pic.twitter.com/wwfErkW09e
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) December 22, 2017
