Rajinikanth's poll debut to be from little-known party?

NEW DELHI: A political party called ‘Makkal Sevai Katchi’ in Tamil Nadu, which has been allotted the election symbol ‘autorickshaw’ by the Election Commission of India, had mentioned actor Rajinikanth’s name in the application. The applicant, whose name was not disclosed, had sought the ‘two-finger pose’ or ‘hasta mudra’ symbol (made famous by Rajini in the 2002 film ‘Baba’) as the first preference.

The EC is understood to have denied the ‘hasta mudra symbol’ as it bears resemblance to the Indian National Congress’s ‘hand’ symbol. ‘Autorickshaw’ is reminiscent of the 1995 Rajini blockbuster ‘Baashha’.

Sources told TOI that Makkal Sevai Katchi is the new name of the party after the applicant got a previously registered named, ‘Anaithindhia Makkal Shakthi Kazhagam’ changed through an EC notification issued two-and-a-half months ago. The application for the symbol mentioned the party’s intention to contest all the 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu.


While the list of political parties notified by the Commission on March 15, 2019, included ‘Anaithindhia Makkal Shakthi Kazhagam’, with its headquarters at Ernavoor, Chennai, as entry number 237, an amended list notified by the poll panel on September 30, 2020, said entry no 237 was being revised to ‘Makkal Sevai Katchi’.

In the film ‘Baba’ produced by Rajini, the protagonist starts off as an atheist and, after a chance meeting with Mahavatar Babaji in the Himalayas, returns to place his own government in power. In the movie, Rajini made the ‘hasta mudra’ – thumb holding down middle and ring fingers, with the forefinger and little finger raised – as a style statement. The film flopped.

Autorickshaw holds significance to the superstar’s clout among the masses, since he played the role of an auto driver in his biggest blockbuster 'Baashha' which catapulted him to a different commercial league in Indian film industry. The number ‘Naan autokaaran, autokaaran …’, which became an instant hit, is played by Rajini fans across the world.