Parties after him to contest LS polls because he is Modi's critic: Prakash Raj
Kozhikode, Jan 14: Actor Prakash Raj has claimed that "three political parties" are after him to be their candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls not for his ideology but because he is a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I don't want to get into the trap," the 58-year-old said at the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) here.
The award winning actor is known for his work in films such as "Kanchivaram", "Singham" and "Wanted". He had contested as an Independent candidate from Bengaluru Central in the 2019 general elections unsuccessfully.
"Now, elections are coming, three political parties are behind me. I have switched off the phone... because I don't want to get into the trap. They are not coming for the people, for my ideology, they say because 'I am a 'Modi basher', you are a good candidate'," Raj, a vocal critic of the BJP government at the Centre, said during a session on "Star Power and State-craft: Public Persona and Electoral Politics" on Saturday.
Political parties today have lost their voice and have no truth left in them, he alleged and added that this is the reason many of them (parties) are struggling to find candidates.
"There are no candidates in this country. Political parties are struggling to find a representative of a constituency. How poor are we?" the actor asked a packed house.
The actor's replies were to questions by session moderator Anjana Sankar. Raj was also asked whether he "hates" Prime Minister Modi.
"I don't hate him (Modi). Is he my father-in-law or do I have any property issues with him? I am just telling him I am a taxpayer... I paid your salary and you are treating me as your servant. Now, that doesn't work... I am asking him to do his job," Raj said.
While defending his posts on 'X' criticising the government, the actor said in his posts, "I speak what is there in everybody's heart, and it is not my voice, this is our (people's) voice".
"This not my 'mann ki baat' but our 'mann ki baat'," Raj said while talking about his social media posts.
He further said the person in power needs to be asked questions.
"Whether I have voted for him or not voted for him, he is still my PM. This is democracy, he cannot say you did not vote, you don't ask... The minute he comes down, whoever will come (next) I'll ask that person. You'll see my tweets change. After he (Modi) goes, if he goes, then why would I talk about him?" he said.
"Do I tweet about Nehru, Hitler, they are not even relevant to me... People will call me fool if I talk about somebody else like Aurangzeb, Tip Sultan -- eight generations back, I was not even born then," Raj said.
Historian William Dalrymple, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, American physician-author Abraham Verghese, award-winning author Perumal Murugan and comedian Kanan Gill were among the 400 noted personalities attending the Kerala Literature Festival, which concludes on Sunday.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
