Dissident AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Sunday claimed that actor Rajinikanth’s political entry would only affect the DMK.
Asked if the decision of the actor to enter politics was reason enough for the ruling AIADMK and his faction to unite, Mr. Dhinakaran told The Hindu: “Our supporters have never been supporters of him (Rajinikanth). Even if he comes to politics, only the votes of the DMK would go to him and not ours.”To a question on how he could claim to pursue the path taken by rationalist and DMK founder C.N. Annadurai and yet be a believer in God, he contended, “As far as politics is concerned, I follow in the footsteps of Anna.”
Mr. Dhinakaran recently opposed Mr. Rajinikanth’s “spiritual politics” saying spiritualism cannot be mixed with politics.
When asked if it is appropriate for him and his supporters to still claim to have inherited the real AIADMK when the Election Commission had already assigned the name and the flag of the party to the Chief Minister’s faction, he said it was not the final decision. “It is only a Commission. We have appealed (in the court) against it,” he reasoned.