Chennai: As the dust settles in Poes Garden after BJP leader Narendra Modi's visit to Tamil superstar Rajinikanth's residence in Chennai, the question is just how much of a difference will the meeting make to the saffron party's campaign in Tamil Nadu.
Driving straight to Tamil superstar Rajinikanth's house, the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate visited the actor on Sunday hoping for a political endorsement. But half-an-hour later the script did not go as per Narendra Modi's plan. Rajinkanth chose to play down the meeting given that his first 3D animated film Kochadaiiyaan is releasing on May 9.
Rajinikanth said, "This is not a political meet. He is my well wisher and I am his well wisher. Everyone knows he is a strong leader and an able administrator. I wish him well. I pray for Gods grace whatever he thinks should happen."
It was in 1996 during the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu that Rajinikanth's political power first shone. His one-liner 'even god can't save Tamil Nadu, if AIADMK returns to power' swung the votes in favour of the DMK-Tamil Manila Congress combine.
In subsequent elections the superstar has made his political preference public, but has never met with a similar response. So with the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu just over a week away can Modi's photo-op with the star create a ripple in the state?
Senior journalist & Asian College of Journalism Chairman Sashi Kumar said, "It comes too late to begin with. It's too close to the elections for Rajinikanth to change anything on the ground. Best he could do is continue to have Modi's goodwill and ensure he's not treading on Jayalalithaa's turf or for that matter for the BJP's turf without earning a bad will from the Dravidian parties. He did what was expected."
The BJP which doesn't have a strong foothold in Tamil Nadu has put together a rainbow alliance with five regional parties in the state for the upcoming elections. But political observers feel that another former Tamil actor may have been the factor behind Modi's meeting with Rajini.
Commenting on this Sashi Kumar said, "I think Modi decided to meet Rajinikanth at this junction because they found that Jayalalithaa isn't warming to the BJP as they thought she would. The BJP thought there would be some expression of support whether pre-poll or post-poll and there was nothing of that support. And on the other hand Modi coming to Tamil Nadu and meeting Rajinikanth has forced the issue and now she too has come out openly against the BJP and asked people not to vote for the BJP."
While Rajini's star power may not translate into votes for the BJP in Tamil Nadu what the photo-op has ensured is that the buzz around Modi stays alive until April 24.
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