{"id":25668,"date":"2017-09-01T19:35:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T14:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=25668"},"modified":"2017-09-01T20:28:26","modified_gmt":"2017-09-01T14:58:26","slug":"kamal-hassan-declares-hes-joining-politics-soon-but-saffron-not-his-colour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/politics\/kamal-hassan-declares-hes-joining-politics-soon-but-saffron-not-his-colour\/","title":{"rendered":"Kamal Hassan declares he\u2019s joining politics soon but saffron not his colour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kamal Hassan, the Tamil superstar known for not mincing his words when it comes to issues of the State and how it should be run, may finally plunge into the world of politics soon.<\/p>\n

The actor met his long-time friend and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan <\/a>at the latter\u2019s Cliff House residence in Thiruvananthapuram to discuss politics, among other things.<\/p>\n

Not one to dodge questions, Hassan was candid about the meeting when he spoke to reporters after his discussions with Vijayan and though he still appeared undecided on which political party he will eventually join, he made one thing clear \u2013 it won\u2019t be the BJP.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been talking to the Kerala chief minister about it (political entry), taking advice and I will meet more politicians before I make my call,\u201d Hassan told reporters after his meeting with Vijayan.<\/p>\n

Hassan was asked if the BJP \u2013 which has been on an electoral victory march across the country for the past three years and is preparing to make inroads in Tamil politics by brokering an alliance with the ruling AIADMK government of the state \u2013 would be his political party of choice. The actor\u2019s reply was a resounding no: \u201cMy colour has obviously been seen over the 40 years that I have been working in cinema\u2026 it definitely is not saffron\u2026 I want to be in the middle of things, not leaning to any side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hassan, whose popularity among the Tamil population as an actor is arguably second only to megastar Rajinikanth, has been critical of the AIADMK government ruling Tamil Nadu in recent years. He had hit out at the state government when the late J Jayalalithaa was chief minister and has continued to criticise the current regime headed by Edappadi Palaniswami. A technologically savvy person, who often engages with his fans through social media platforms like Twitter, Hassan had recently appealed to his numerous followers across Tamil Nadu to \u201cbe ready to march towards Fort St. George in Chennai\u201d- venue of the TN Assembly.<\/p>\n

In recent weeks, especially since the factional feuds within the AIADMK <\/a>became a public spectacle, Hassan has been extremely critical of the Palaniswami government and its alleged corruption. He has repeatedly urged Tamil people to work towards forming a new government. On Friday, while he didn\u2019t talk about his reservations against the Tamil Nadu government<\/a>, Hassan said: \u201cIssues are more important than the government because people are more important than the government\u2026Government\u2019s should be concerned about the people.\u201d<\/p>\n

While it is not yet known whether the Tamil superstar would join Vijayan\u2019s Communist Party of India (Marxist) \u2013 which is itself facing internal feuds between the Kerala and Bengal factions \u2013 Hassan made it clear that he has immense respect for Leftist politicians.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeft leaders have always been my heroes,\u201d Hassan said, while adding that \u201cthis doesn\u2019t mean that I don\u2019t have any other heroes (in other political parties)\u201d. However, his praise for Vijayan \u2013 with whom he shares a common love for rationalism, secular politics and a pro-choice approach in life \u2013 was unqualified.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy admiration for him (Vijayan) is not blind, it is a sensible one. Look at his statistics, look at the funds he has and what he has managed to do with it. You should be proud of him. Doesn\u2019t matter if he is left, right or centre, there are Western standards of living here (in Kerala),\u201d Hassan said while replying to questions about his rapport with the Kerala chief minister.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"