Chennai: Though Tamil superstar Rajnikant's directive to his fans to work for the defeat of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) candidates in six Lok Sabha constituencies has enthused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres in the State, the actor appears to be in a dilemma, as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is not so keen on joining the fans in the campaign.

Rajnikant made a sensational statement on April 11, asking his fans to work against PMK nominees and stated that he would vote for the BJP-AIADMK combine, as the BJP had promised to interlink rivers, his pet theme. However, he suddenly left for an Ashram in Himachal Pradesh, dashing the BJP's hopes of involving him directly in the poll campaign.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

His pointed remark that the PMK had "sought asylum" with their friends was an obvious reference to the DMK.

The sudden decision to postpone his meetings with his fans and leave for the Ashram is probably because he was not in a mood to antagonise the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), as he claims to be the best friend of DMK president M Karunanidhi.

However, Rajnikant fans association sources say that the actor would meet his fans before the May 10 polls.

Meanwhile, the fans are confused, not knowing whether to support the BJP-AIADMK front or not. The fans are active members of different parties, barring the PMK T C Vijayan, president of one of the fan clubs, is a former DMK MLA, representing Tiruvottiyur.

Under these circumstances, it is not clear whether they would abide by his directives or not.

Political observers feel that AIAMDK's hesitation to fully involve Rajnikant fans in the campaigning stems from the fact that AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa does not want any clash between her charisma and that of Rajnikant.

She has already expelled an AIADMK division secretary from the party, for putting a picture of Rajnikant on top of AIADMK campaign graffiti. This has sent jitters among party cadres, who are hesitant in involving Rajnikant's fans in campaigning.

DMK president Karunanidhi has been deliberately avoiding questions on the superstar, as he does not want to join issue with him.

It may be recalled that during the 1996 Assembly polls, Rajnikant fans wholeheartedly supported the DMK-TMC (Tamil Maanila Congress) combine, resulting in the defeat of AIADMK.

DMK sources said the party did not want to antagonise the superstar, as he had not made any remarks against it.

Rajnikanth's Opposition to PMK is confined only to six seats, where the winning margin could, at best, be reduced by the presence of his fans. The state was also under the influence of an anti-incumbency wave against the Jayalalithaa Government and the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) led by DMK would get maximum advantage of the wave, the sourcessaid.

The recent opinion poll predictions of a landslide win for the DPA in the Lok Sabha elections only proved their point, they added.