"Will declare decision as soon as possible," says Rajinikanth
After brainstorming with his followers here for about two hours, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Monday said he would make known his decision on entering politics as soon as possible.
After brainstorming with his followers here for about two hours, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Monday said he would make known his decision on entering politics as soon as possible.
Rajinikanth, refraining from making any categorical assertion, said he met the district secretaries of his 'Rajini Makkal Mandram' and deliberated the possibility of his political foray.
While the office-bearers expressed their opinions, he conveyed his views on the matter to them, he told reporters outside his Poes Garden residence after winding up consultations with RMM secretaries at Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam.
"They (functionaries) told me that they are with me whatever may be my decision. I will make known by decision (on political foray) as soon as possible," he said and raised both his hands gesturing 'Vanakkam' in his inimitable style.
Assembly elections are due in Tamil Nadu during April- May 2021.
A section of office bearers who attended the meet, later told reporters that they urged Rajinikanth to take the political plunge since Tamil Nadu people "need a honest, true leader" to lead them.
Rajinikanth listened to their views and assured them that he would announce his decision soon, they said.
DMK women's wing secretary and MP Kanimozhi wondered what impact could be expected following the actor's consultations with his supporters and added that in a democracy anyone could aspire to enter politics.
Earlier in the day, Rajinikanth was accorded a warm welcome by his supporters, who gathered in large numbers outside the Mandapam and burst crackers, eagerly expecting a positive announcement on his political entry.
Last month, Rajinikanth had for the first time disclosed that he had undergone a kidney transplant in 2016 in the United States and that the doctors were against him venturing into politics in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Also, Rajinikanth had said that he would announce his decision on entering politics after consultations with office-bearers of his Mandram.
Rajinikanth's 1996 one-liner, "even God cannot save Tamil Nadu if AIADMK is voted back to power" became hugely popular in the run up to the Assembly polls that year.
Ever since, there has not only been speculation about his political entry but also discussions over his charisma, mass appeal, probability of winning polls and if he would throw his weight behind a party, rather than launching his own outfit.
Opposition DMK handsomely won the polls in 1996 and reins of power in Tamil Nadu changed hands between the AIADMK and DMK since then, but the animated debate about Rajinikanth vis-a-vis politics has not ceased.
In 2017, Rajinikanth had said that he would for sure enter politics and early this year, he however said he never nurtured any ambition to become the Chief Minister.
Instead, he said he would name a capable youth as Chief Minister in sync with his ideal of separate leadership for the government and party to ensure good governance. Also, he had said he would enter politics when he saw an upsurge among people favouring clean politics.
The story has been taken from a news agency
09:06 PM IST