Film megastar Rajinikanth asked his office officials if they were ready to “start a political party in January” after being asked to participate in the 2021 elections in Tamil Nadu in a meeting, sources said.
Against the backdrop of doctors advising him not to enter politics, main star Rajinikanth held a meeting to deliberate on the possibility of his political entry with officials at his forum on Monday. The meeting with the Rajini Makkal Mandram district secretaries was held at the actor’s Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in Chennai.
Mandram representatives asked Rajinikanth to participate in the upcoming 2021 elections in the state. However, the leader asked them to be patient until he made a decision on the issue, the sources said.
The meeting also saw discussions about whether he should enter the political arena only with another party. “Some district chiefs are not working satisfactorily. Only when you work hard can we go to the next level. I will decide whether to start the party,” Rajinikanth said, according to sources.
The leader asked his officials what the reception would be if he entered politics at that time. “What is the public sentiment about Rajinikanth entering politics?” He told district heads.
“Can we start a political party in January? Are you ready?” added. Some party representatives said the leader would have a high chance of winning if he began his political journey as soon as possible.
The meeting took place a month after the actor said “at the right time, I will let people know about my political position after consulting with Rajini Makkal Mandram officials.”
Elections for the assembly will be held in Tamil Nadu during April-May 2021. On October 29, Rajinikanth said that doctors had advised him not to enter politics, as he had undergone a kidney transplant in 2016 and due to to coronavirus pandemic. The disclosure of his health status was seen as an indication that the actor was seriously reconsidering the creation of a political party.
The Mandram, billed as a ‘launch vehicle’, was seen as a preparatory exercise to help the actor successfully float his political party ahead of the 2021 elections.
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