Chennai: Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan not attending the Karunanidhi statue unveiling event in Chennai Sunday has let many raise their eye-brows.
When political pundits were guessing that he would be a natural ally in the DMK-Congress camp for his anti-BJP agenda, Kamal Haasan skipping the event has let loose many speculations.
Kamal said yesterday that his party has started preparing for the general elections but declined to speak on possibilities of forming an alliance with other parties. He said that has been touring Tamilnadu as part of his efforts to strengthen his new party.
Asked if he would go it alone or ally with other parties for next year’s Parliament election and by-polls to 20 Assembly constituencies, he said, “Such things cannot be said now and it cannot be disclosed to the media. Some sections of the media are imagining things. We will do what is good for the people.”
There were rumours doing the rounds that Kamal had entered the electoral fray with the Congress and the DMK. However, the actor-politician chose to put an end to it on Saturday with a tweet. He wrote that his party would not take a detour for short term benefits.
“I came into politics for a reason. We will not detour in our journey for short term benefits. This is fake news. If need be, We shall stand alone. #NalaiNamadhe.”
Following his tweet, he chose not to attend the MK statue unveiling event though he was formally invited. However with DMK openly declaring its support for Congress at the public meeting yesterday and the party president Stalin stating that his party would strive to make Rahul Gandhi as Chief Minister, the battle lines are almost drawn.
Says Ravikumar a political observer, “Known for his close proximity with Communist leaders especially Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, one wonders what would be Kamal’s next move. He also shares a good rapport with West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamta Bannerjee and Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. Barring DMK none have made their stand clear on Rahul Gandhi as their Prime Ministerial candidate for 2019 general elections. Interestingly the same Kamal Haasan was a special invitee when H D Kumaraswamy was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister a few months ago and the occasion brought together all opposition parties under one roof. One wonders what transpired after that. Also remember he personally called on Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and discussed in detail about Tamilnadu politics.”
Sources in Makkal Needhi Maiam, say, “Our leader interacts with people. He knows what they want. May be he would try bring like-minded parties together.” “It is certain that he is maintaining an equidistant from both the BJP and the Congress,” they add.