my article in times of India today: TN politics is much more than lip service to language, Lankan Tamil issue and film stars Gnani Sankaran BJP seems to believe in the notion that is popular north of Vindhyas that Tamil Nadu politics depends mainly on celebrities from films. It has been trying hard recently to rope in matinee idol Rajinikanth to lead the party so that it can snatch power in the assembly elections of 2016. But, so far, BJPs desire for Rajinis endorsement remains a one-sided love affair, with the actor, known to be a smart businessman, only making elusive and wishy-washy remarks about joining politics. Rajini’s political acumen, if any, was revealed recently when he sent a greeting to Jayalalithaa complimenting her for returning home (from jail on bail) after conviction on the disproportionate assets case based on her period of rule (1991-96) that Rajini had condemned as a curse for Tamil society. The ten-year ban on Jayalalitha contesting any election and a slew of 2G spectrum and other corruption cases against several important members of DMK have together created a political space, that can be filled by a competent political party. And BJP has openly expressed its ambition to fill that slot. But Tamil politics is still dominated by the two main Dravidian parties which between them have a vote share of more than 50%. The smaller Dravidian parties and caste-based outfits have a smaller claim. And BJP in terms of vote share comes almost at the last of the ladder. The rainbow coalition put together by BJP for 2014 did not yield the desired results. TN gave the Modi wave a miss and the BJP alliance won only two seats, one of which was won mainly by the caste polarising strength of its ally PMK and the other was a Congress bastion where BJP, as an alternative national party, won in a multi-cornered contest. BJP has been attempting to play the Tamil sentiments card by making supportive statements on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue and the plight of fishworkers in the hands of Lankan Navy -- the two issues which discredited the Congress in Tamil Nadu. By aligning with Vaikos MDMK, a strong votary of these two causes, BJP hoped to gain. But after the change of rule in the centre, the new BJP-Modi government has been found wanting in addressing these issues. Within months after the election, all the three important allies of BJP -- MDMK, DMDK and PMK – took strong exception to the BJP government’s handling of these issues. Since BJP and its guiding force RSS are still perceived to be pro-brahminical with its leadership being often brahmin, the latest effort has been to use the Modi route. But the social justice plank, as espoused by Periyar E V Ramasami, has never been favoured by BJP and, among the dominant backward classes of Tamil Nadu, BJP is known more as an anti-Mandal commission party. When Pon Radhakrishnan, belonging to the social backward but enterprising nadar caste, became a central minister he went to pay his respects to Kanchi Sankara Mutt, a bastion of brahmin and upper caste devotees. And the last resort seems to be film celebrity endorsement. With Rajini being elusive and uncommitted, this has remained a non-starter. Thus the options before BJP now are to take smaller steps instead of attempting a big leap before 2016. Such steps could vary from pulling Jaya to its side depending on the court rulings expected in March 2015, to jumping to the other side by aligning with DMK whose leaders Karunanidhi and Stalin may not be unwilling partners in the absence of a strong Congress party anywhere in the country. By now BJP must have realised that Dravidian politics is not just about lip service to Tamil language, Sri Lankan Tamils and film celebrity endorsements. There is much beyond all this which it is yet to fathom, understand and work on. -----------------------
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 07:57:32 +0000
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