Superstar Rajinikanth’s Entry Into Election Politics Eagerly Anticipated (Archive)
Chennai:
Superstar Rajinikanth, who was urged earlier this month by supporters to reconsider his decision to stay away from electoral politics, will meet with his party’s district secretaries, Rajini Makkal Mandram, on Monday to confirm whether, in fact, will compete in the next year. Assembly surveys.
Sources within Team Rajini have said that it is unclear whether the meeting will be in person or online, to maintain social distancing during the Covid pandemic.
Last month, the actor hinted that his long-awaited entry into electoral politics could be delayed. A letter attributed to him cited doctors’ concern over the campaign during the pandemic and the potential impact on Rajinikanth’s health. The letter appeared to indicate that the actor had been advised to restrict travel as he has a kidney condition and could be vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus.
The 69-year-old actor later said the letter “was not mine, but the doctor’s advice is true.”
“I will speak to Rajini Makkal Mandram and announce my political position at the appropriate time,” added the actor, who has spoken on various political issues over the past two years but has delayed his formal downfall, he added.
Days later posters appeared in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, urging him to reconsider.
One of them was introduced by “Citizens of Vellore wanting a change” and urged him to “take the path of a lion to hunt pack of blood-sucking wolves and summon eagles.”
Another from a fan, VM Jeya Srinivasan, said: “It is a great beginning of the government of the people.”
The suspense over Rajinikanth’s electoral debut comes a few months before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections; it will be the first since the death of the two most powerful politicians in the state – J Jayalalithaa of AIADMK and MK Karunanidhi, leaving a power vacuum to be filled.
Early last year, actor and politician Kamal Haasan (who runs the Makkal Needhi Maiam) and Rajinikanth had expressed their willingness to work together, if necessary, for the well-being of Tamil Nadu, raising the tantalizing prospect of an alliance of superstars. .
Last week, the ruling AIADMK said, during Interior Minister Amit Shah’s visit, that he would continue his alliance with the BJP, which has a negligible presence in the state and has been courting Rajinikanth for a long time.
However, there was no meeting between Mr. Shah and Rajinikanth.
The actor’s supposed control over people is legendary; many believe that her 1996 comment – “Not even God can save Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa wins” – led to defeat.
The BJP has made no secret of its desire for more prominence in the southern states – launching leaders such as UP Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath and Interior Minister Amit Shah for next month’s Hyderabad municipal elections. is an example of that.
Tamil Nadu is expected to vote for a new government in March, when Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami hopes to lead AIADMK to a third consecutive term.
The opposition, led by DMK’s MK Stalin, will hope to repeat the impressive clean-up that its party (allied with Congress) achieved in last year’s Lok Sabha polls.
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