Dates for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are yet to be announced, but poll fever is definitely rising. And with it all the hype, speculation and gossip that goes with it.
Tamil Nadu’s politicians, often with Kollywood connections, the iron-fisted style of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, her sycophantic followers and the DMK that has made dynastic rule its style all add grist to the rumour mill. Here are some of the most riveting – or absurd – stories doing the rounds…
That given Jayalalithaa’s failing health, many of her party men are eyeing the CM’s post in the belief that the party will ride to power in the coming elections, too. This includes a minister who’s occupied the CM’s post on and off. He’s known to wipe the floor with his shawl when Amma alights from her car, but is definitely looking to grab the CM’s chair, this time on a more permanenet basis.
That anyone who wishes to be considered as a candidate has to cough up Rs two crore. This has resulted in everyone claiming they have access to Poes Garden and doubling as middle men.
That for all the support M Karunanidhi is seemingly lending his son M.K Stalin, in the event of the party coming to power there’s no way the older DMK leader is going to anoint his son. This, apparently, is causing a lot of tension within the family.
That Vijayakanth, actor-turned-politician and the subject of much Internet humour, wants to be king, not kingmaker.
That all the noise he’s making eventually comes down to ‘Show me the money’. It’s an open secret in TN’s political circles that Vijayakanth’s asking rate for lending support to any party is Rs 500 crores. Whoa!
