Is super-star Rajinikanth the next President of India?

Is Rajinikanth the next President of India? Several circles in both Delhi and Tamil Nadu is abuzz with the news that the the super-star also known as Rajini will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's choice for the post of president. The Modi sarkar likes to throw in surprises and like the way A B Vajpayee made A P J Abdul Kalam President, this time too India will be in for a surprise.

The names of senior BJP leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi have been ruled out for now after the Supreme Court ordered a trial against them in the Babri Masjid demolition case. For sometime, a few months ago, the name of Amitabh Bachchan too had done the rounds, but after the Panama papers case, it was said that his name was dropped.

So what makes Rajini a suitable candidate for the President of India? The Modi government is unlikely to give Pranab Mukherjee another term in July. The BJP has inched close towards the numbers to elect a President, but would still need the support of AIADMK or BJD.

A consensus candidate:

Rajini will be a consensus candidate. He has been described as humble, non-controversial and a widely acceptable and popular star. He has stayed away from politics, except the one time back in the early 2000s when he indicated that he would take a shot at politics.

If Rajini is the BJP's choice, then none of the parties would object to the same. Rajini is a sellable name and opposing him would mean losing the vote base of his huge fan base. Even the AIADMK whose support the BJP needs to elect a President of its choice would back his candidature as they would not like to



antagonise his fans in Tamil Nadu.

From military might to soft power:

In the appointment of Kalam, the BJP had showcased its prowesses in the fields of science, nuclear and defence technology. Kalam was the missile man of India and in his candidature there was a loud and powerful message to the world, which direction India was going in.

In the case of Rajini who is the recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan, India would showcase its softer side and also the importance it has to the field of art and culture. Although Rajini is anything but soft on screen, in the outside world, he is a picture of poise. His candidature will display to the world India's softer side.

Tamil Nadu in mind of course:

The BJP is an aspirant in Tamil Nadu. It has not managed to break the ice with the voters of Tamil Nadu as yet. The BJP is hoping to make inroads in South India and is confident that it can put up a good show in TN in the years to come.

Rajini's candidature is likely to give the BJP a major boost in TN. While one cannot say what the general voter may think, his candidature would help the BJP with his fan base. The BJP often dubbed as a Hindi party in TN and this has not done any good for the party.

Many in Tamil Nadu have in secret quarters expressed gratitude to the BJP as they feel it was thanks to the party that the likes of Sasikala Natarajan and T T V Dinakaran were kept away from the government. In appointing Rajini, the people of TN are likely to feel that the BJP does give importance to the state and means business down South as well.