Tamil superstar Rajinikanth said on Twitter on Thursday that he will launch his political party in January next year, adding that the announcement will be made on December 31.
The assembly elections will be held in Tamil Nadu next year.
He had met with the district secretaries of ‘Rajini Makkal Mandram’, a political extension of his fan club, on Monday and deliberated on the possibility of his political foray.
“They (the officials) told me that they are with me regardless of my decision. I will make it known by decision (on political incursion) as soon as possible ”, he had said after the meeting.
Fans filled the meeting venue and his residence cheering him on as the next prime minister. Rajinikanth reportedly spoke with approximately 1.5 hours at the meeting.
“Most of the officials wanted him to participate in the 2021 assembly elections, but we also wanted him to take care of his health,” said Thoothukudi’s district secretary AJ Stalin.
In October, Rajinikanth had revealed for the first time that he had undergone a kidney transplant in 2016 in the United States and that doctors were against him venturing into politics in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Rajinikanth had first announced his decision to enter politics in December 2017, but had not taken any concrete steps to build his party. In March 2020, Rajinikanth said that he would lead his party, but wanted someone educated to be the prime minister. However, the only certainty that Rajinikanth has maintained in his political plans is that his politics would be spiritual.
On the other hand, Rajinikanth’s contemporary in film and politics, Kamal Hassan, who floated the Makkal Needhi Maiam (People’s Justice Party) ran in the 2019 parliamentary elections and is preparing to run candidates for the 234 assembly seats. Hassan had said that he will not line up with any of the Dravidian parties.
(With inputs from agencies)
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