Is Rajinikanth Joining Politics? Wait Till 31 Dec, Says ‘Thalaiva’
“I’m not new to politics. I know the pitfalls... If you step into the battlefield, you have to win”: Rajinikanth
Will Rajinikanth finally join politics? The question that has been most debated in the last one year. The star has announced that he will put an end to all the rumours on New Year’s Eve.
There are so many speculations about whether I will join politics. I shall announce my decision on 31st December, 2017.Rajinikanth
Superstar Rajinikanth addressed his fans today in Chennai at the beginning of a six-day outreach that is widely expected to end with him revealing his political debut.
He kept the suspense alive by saying he is hesitant because he is not a newbie to the world of politics.
"I have been in politics as early as 1996," he remarked in an oblique reference. It is his comment back in the 90s ‘Even God can't save Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa returns to power,’ that is believed to have caused the former chief minister a defeat in the state polls.
Ruling party AIADMK reacted to his statement saying anyone can enter politics because at the end of the day it is up to the people to decide.
Life is war. Politics is also war. In this, everyone’s aim is only to win the war.Jayakumar, TN fisheries Minister to reporters
Will He, Won’t He? A Two-Decade-Long Guessing Game
In a break from tradition, the actor did not meet his fans on his birthday this year.
He announced the annual meet and greet event after a meeting with close aide Tamilaruvi Manian at his Chennai residence on 22 December.
On any day from 26 December to 31 December, he (Rajinikanth) will disclose his plan of action, thereafter there will not be any doubt regarding his political entry.Tamilaruvi Manian, Rajinikanth’s close friend
The possibility of his entry into politics has been debated for about two decades, but has revived now in view of a perceived political vacuum in Tamil Nadu after the demise of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. DMK chief M Karunanidhi is also not active in politics due to ill health.
The actor's opposition to Jayalalithaa was seen as one factor which helped catapult the main opposition party to power in the assembly elections that year.
Since then, his fans have urged him to enter politics and expectations have risen among political observers.
Reviving anticipation of his imminent political entry, the actor had said in May that the "system is rotten" despite the presence of "efficient" leaders like DMK's M K Stalin and PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss.
Countering opposition from some pro-Tamil quarters that he is a non Tamil (since he has Marathi roots and Karnataka origin), he had then asserted that he was a "pachai Tamizhan (pure Tamilian)."
Addressing his fans in May for a similar photo-op, Rajinikanth had said, “Let us face the war when it comes” which was seen as an indication that he might enter politics.
In November, the actor said he was in no hurry to enter politics or to start a political party.
After Kamal Haasan confirmed that he will join politics, all eyes have been on Rajinikanth, who enjoys a massive fan following in south India.
(With inputs from The News Minute)
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Rajinikanth, who has stridden the Tamil cine-world like a colossus for the past four decades and enjoys almost a demigod-like status among his legion of followers, might make public his political entry during his address to fans.
There is an expectation that he will spell out his stand on entering politics. He may do it or may not... only he knows... let no one speculate.Senior functionary of the All India Rajinikanth Fans Welfare Club told PTI.
The superstar is set to meet nearly 1,000 fans across 18 districts during the week.