Rajini is not MGR, will not impact TN: Alagiri

Actor Rajinikanth is not an MGR and his political entry in any form will never have an impact in Tamil Nadu politics, said TNCC president KS Alagiri in Kumbakonam on Thursday. 

Speaking to reporters, Alagiri said, despite Rajinikanth being a good actor and has earned respect from the people across the state, he is not like MGR and his initiations into political arena will never have any impact. “I respect him, but I do not have faith on him floating a new political party, which has been doing rounds for several decades,” Alagiri said. 

The state Congress chief stated that no one in Tamil Nadu is against Rajinikanth entering politics, but his attempts to establish himself in the political arena would certainly fail. Stating that the Congress has been initiating protests against CAA inside and outside Parliament, the TNCC chief claimed that only Congress and the secular parties can back the minorities in the country. “We swear by it,” he said. 

He also said that not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but one who is stronger than Modi cannot remove the minorities from the country and the Congress will act as a pillar to guard them, he said. He claimed that both Modi and Amit Shah are in the habit of threatening people and they do not know anything beyond that, he said. 

Meanwhile, Alagiri said that politics equally has martyrs and traitors. “Martyrs will always be with the people when they suffer, but the traitors will run away when there is an ordeal and the traitors will also be identified when there is no power in the people whom they depend on,” he added. 

Alagiri referred to Jyotiraditya Scindia that he had gone away from Congress for want of power. “He will not survive even a single minute without power,” Alagiri added. Former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and others accompanied him. 

Principal Opposition party DMK on Thursday underplayed actor Rajinikanth’s political somersault and advised the actor to fill the vacuum. 

DMK treasurer Duraimurugan responding to Rajini’s comments that there was still a major vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics said, “If he has the power, let him fill it.” 

Asked about the actor suggesting different leaderships for party and government, the sarcastic DMK treasurer said, “It is his principle. 

It is for his followers to accept or reject it. What can we do about it?” On Rajinikanth describing the 2021 Assembly polls as a life or death situation for his party president MK Stalin, Duraimurugan said, “Only life,” sporting a broad grin.