Chennai: Film icon Kamal Haasan seems keen on redefining politics in Tamil Nadu. Even without launching into the garrulous and expensive exercises of political rallies, flags and a catchy 'Dravidian' name for the party-to-be-launched, the actor-social campaigner is now already neck deep in politics with his provocative social media statements challenging the existing system as putrid that must be quickly replaced.
And while his celluloid friend 'Superstar' Rajinikanth is still 'consulting' friends on his political launch, Kamal caused yet another mini-storm in the social media and also the state political corridors with his latest tweets on Tuesday-particularly the one urging the bravehearts to join him “in a new Independence struggle to free the society from the prevailing high corruption”.
Though a few 'cynics' responded to that tweet in discouraging prose, a good majority welcomed the actor's exhortation and many wanted to know when he would launch his 'New Independence Struggle'.
Each of the three Kamal tweets got over 15,000 'likes' and 5000 'retweets' in just three hours of posting. And the score has been climbing rapidly since.
The second tweet is as much unambiguous screaming aloud the star's political campaign that had begun with his 'corruption-in-every-department' proclamation on July 19. This tweet said: “My aim is a better Tamilnadu. Who dares to strengthen my voice? DMK AIADMK & parties R tools to help. If those tools R blunt find others”. So, is Kamal readying himself to be the 'other option', or is he merely testing the waters, or is he preparing the launch pad for old pal Rajinikanth?
The first tweet at 2.58 pm said, obviously referring to the UP CM Yogi Adityanath, “If one state's CM should resign for a mishap & corruption under his govt. How come no party calls for resignation in TN. Enough crimes done”. Whatever be the real motive behind all this barrage on social media, Kamal is not flinching from the harsh attack on him by not just the ruling AIADMK party functionaries but even the 'friendly' opposition politicians for his July 19 corruption tweet.
Kamal is still keeping all his socio-political campaign to mostly the social media and is yet to take the route of direct public contact.
Political commentator Ravindran Duraisamy said if Kamal really wants to launch into politics, he will have to cover vast distance and incur huge expenses apart from facing attack from multiple parties and leaders for being their newest challenger, that too from Kollywood which has already delivered three CMs.
“Kamal lacks support of people and it would be very difficult for him to survive. He does not enjoy the fan base that Rajinikanth enjoys and hence he will have to travel a long distance,” he said.
“We have to wait and see if Kamal will do this, though his social media proclamations so far indicate he might take the plunge, particularly the one about his being more keen on thanmaanam (self-respect) than tharkaappu (self-defence). Having pointed fingers at the politicians in power, he cannot run away from taking up the challenge thrown at him by some AIADMK Ministers that he should plunge into the waters than just sit by the side and make critical comments,” a former minister said, requesting anonymity.
