CHENNAI: While the BJP functionaries in Tamil Nadu are confident that the entry of former actor Napoleon will be the beginning of an exodus from the DMK, the leaders of the Dravidian outfit dismissed it as a minor event not even worth of commenting on it.
Napolean, in an attempt to explain his unremarkable political journey, blamed his uncle and DMK strong man KN Nehru for not letting him leave any mark in his career as a minister so far. However he hopes to make an impact after his entry into the saffron party fold. When asked about his decision to join the BJP, Napoleon said “The primary reason for quitting the DMK is my uncle Nehru. He was the man behind my entry into cinema and he was also responsible for my admission into the DMK. It was Nehru, who made me an MP and an union minister of state. He is also my reason behind quitting the DMK.”
Napolean further blamed his uncle Nehru for not allowing him to function as a central minister. “He did not permit me to enter my own Parliament constituency. He prevented me from doing anything in the party,” the actor complained. Asked about his future plans and what he could do for the BJP, he said “Just wait and watch.”
However, his former party members dismisses him as a spent force. A DMK functionary at Tiruchirapalli district, the native of Napoleon said, “We have not commented on Napoleon’s exit from the party as it is not worth a comment and did not want to attach any importance to it.”
When pressed further, he said, “it is well known that Napoleon owes his existence to his uncle. It was Nehru, who introduced him to Kollywood and made him an actor and brought him to politics and made him an MP and a minister later. What happened to Napoleon after he opposed Nehru? Was he able to act in any movies after that? Was he able to visit his own Lok Sabha constituency? When he came to Tiruchirapalli after that, not a single cadre turned up to welcome him. No one went with him to join the BJP. He does not have any existence without his uncle. He joined former Union Minister Alagiri’s camp but when Alagiri himself did not have a future in the DMK, Napoleon joined the BJP.”
However, BJP state Vice President M Subramaniam, who belong to Tiruchirapalli said “BJP does not believe in individual politics. We will utilise every new member to develop the party. We do not rely on the personal popularity of anyone. In Napoleon’s case, it shows the way for other leaders of the DMK, who are looking for a new alternative as their party is sinking. The actor joining the saffron party proves that the BJP has grown to such a level that it can attract a leader from one of the main stream parties in Tamil Nadu. Napoleon has set an example for other DMK leaders to follow suit. This is only the beginning and many more leaders from the DMK will join the BJP and are holding negotiations with us.”