The Ignited Indian

The political scenario of Tamil Nadu has become a giant Circus that every clown sees a job opportunity. Kamal Hassan is a great actor (other than occasionally shoddy pieces like the Mumbai Express, etc.,) and there is no doubt in that. But, he has zero experience running a social/political movement. Same for Rajnikanth and other players in the league. Over 70 years, MGR and Jayalalitha were the only actors who succeeded in Tamil politics and both are unique. It would be futile for other actors to have the same ambition. MGR created an aura for decades (always the good guy (except for the occasional rumors) and peppered films with motivational songs). He spent many years with the Dravidian movement, where he learnt the basics of politics and growing a strong connect with public at large. Even with all that, it was only the untimely death of his leader Annadurai that gave the room for him and Karunanidhi to break out. Jayalalitha tagged behind MGR and used the power vacuum left ...

Elections are often won by convincing the people in the middle - the swing vote. These people are not fanatically attached to either side, but the moderates who can switch votes from one party to an another. In most state elections the past 2 years, the opposition parties were preaching the choir [getting applauses in JNU, The Hindu and other comfort zones] rather than actually trying to win over the people in the middle. First, they have to cut out the personal attacks on Modi. Sonia Gandhi pulled the unthinkable in 2004 not by attacking Vajpayee’s integrity, but by attacking his policies. Vajpayee was highly respected and it would have been a suicide to attack his personality. Rather she talked about how the poor were not cared as much in a “shining India”. Criticism with a kernel of truth would hurt a lot. In the same way, Modi is highly popular not just with BJP but with those in the middle. For the people to hear your criticism, you have to deliver it with respect and sincer...