Start of the downfall: Rajnikanth and R.M. Veerappan at the event to celebrate the 100-day run of Baasha on July 14, 1995. Veerappan’s explanation that the actor would always speak frankly did not cut ice with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who accused him of “enjoying” diatribes against her, recalls a biography of the Minister.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
April 9 marked the first death anniversary of R.M. Veerappan (RMV), one of the powerful leaders of the AIADMK, who served in the Cabinets of party founder M.G. Ramachandran and his successor Jayalalithaa. In a preview video for a documentary, RMV: The King Maker, released by Sathya Movies recently, Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth recollected how his speech at a film function impacted RMV’s political journey. In the video, Rajinikanth said, “Sacking of RMV by Jayalalithaa from her Cabinet was one of the reasons for me to speak out against her government.”
Tasked with election work
A series of reports, published in The Hindu in 1995, elaborated on RMV’s roller-coaster political journey with Jayalalithaa since 1991. In the 1991 Assembly election, RMV was denied an opportunity to contest. Jayalalithaa tasked him with election work. However, after the AIADMK won, he was made the Education Minister. Later, he won from Kangayam, vacated by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who retained Bargur, the second seat she had contested from.
But trouble started brewing for him over his statements on minority rights in the context of a controversy at Madras Christian College. The Chief Minister divested RMV of the Education portfolio and put him in charge of Backward Classes Welfare. In May 1992, she dropped him from the Ministry. A year later, he came back to the Cabinet, this time as the Food Minister.
However, on July 14, 1995, Rajinikanth kicked up a controversy at an event to celebrate the 100-day run of his film Baasha. This happened a day before the Minister’s long-planned trip to the U.S. As the film was released under the banner of RMV’s Sathya Movies, he shared the dais with the actor. Rajinikanth hit out at the lobbing of country-bombs at the house of film director Mani Ratnam in Chennai. He regretted the “spread of bomb culture in Tamil Nadu” and urged the State government to introduce a piece of legislation to root it out, according to a report in The Hindu.
Explanation sought
RMV Oru Thondar (RMV, A Worker), a biography by Ranimynthan, goes into this incident in detail. A furious Jayalalithaa summoned RMV and demanded an explanation from him. “How could you remain silent when Rajini made the remarks,” the biographer recalled Jayalalithaa asking RMV on the intercom, though he visited her in the Chief Minister’s Office. Though RMV argued that speaking his mind was in Rajinikanth’s character, Jayalalithaa was not convinced; instead, she accused him of “enjoying” diatribes against her. RMV understood what would befall him. However, he left for the U.S. as planned. Meanwhile, a protest broke out in the AIADMK against his “failure” to rebut Rajinikanth’s comments.
Notably, the party organ, Namathu MGR, questioned his “silence” while Rajinikanth was “indirectly” criticising the Chief Minister. The article accused RMV of “betrayal” of the party general secretary and said that even an ordinary AIADMK worker would have protested against the remarks. He should have protested against the raising of issues at a film event and denied the allegations against the government, of which he was a part. He should also have explained to the audience the steps initiated by the Chief Minister to curb bomb blasts, The Hindu reported, quoting Namathu MGR.
Offering to quit
RMV, who was abroad, was quick to issue a clarification, reaffirming his loyalty to Jayalalithaa and offering to quit the Ministry if she so desired. An order that was issued subsequently transferring his portfolio to another Minister during his absence raised eyebrows. The matter was put to rest when RMV returned home and resumed his duties as the Food Minister. But the issue resurfaced again when Rajinikanth met him.
Much significance was attached to the meeting as it came on the day when an opinion poll was published indicating strong support for the film star if he chose to enter politics. The discussion sparked off expectations that plans were afoot to work out a common political platform for Rajinikanth and RMV, The Hindu reported. On September 1, 1995, Jayalalithaa removed two Ministers, including RMV, from her Cabinet.
Rajinikanth issued a statement assuming responsibility for all that had happened to the former Minister and apologising to him and his supporters. He said he did not regret his speech at the film event, but he realised later that he should not have done it in the presence of RMV. He also explained that his meeting with RMV, after his return from the U.S., was a courtesy call.
Later, RMV participated at the Anna birth anniversary meeting at Karaikudi though his name was not on the list of speakers. Many fans of Rajinikanth participated at the meeting and RMV was forced to make a mention of the actor. A few days later, he was expelled from the AIADMK.
Determined to remain in public life, RMV founded MGR Kazhagam on October 17, 1995. But the party did not achieve any success.
Published – April 15, 2025 10:34 pm IST
