Rajinikanth has finally ended 20 years of drift and dilemma by announcing, on December 31, his decision to join politics and form a party. He hasn’t provided details of the party’s name or its ideology and electoral strategy, though. Sure, he has made his die-hard fans deliriously happy.
Most of us who have grown seeing Rajnikanth movies, know him as this most charismatic and unparalleled style in his movies. At the same time, he was known as the one who carries himself with exceptional simplicity and modesty in real life. The 67-year-old actor asked people, his legion of followers and everyone else yearning for change in Tamil Nadu – to enroll themselves on his website.
“I have launched this website rajinimandram.org to coordinate fan club members and concerned citizens who want a good political transformation under one umbrella,” Rajinikanth said in a 74-second video message put out on his Twitter handle.
🤘🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/jnqZv1iWGz
— Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) January 1, 2018
Politicians across the divide on Sunday welcomed Tamil actor Rajinikanth’s decision to float a political party ahead of the next Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
Among the first to congratulate Rajinikanth was actor Kamal Haasan. “I congratulate my brother Rajini for his social consciousness and political entry. Welcome, welcome,” he tweeted.
சகோதரர் ரஜினியின் சமூக உணர்வுக்கும் அரசியல் வருகைக்கும் வாழ்த்துக்கள். வருக வருக
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) December 31, 2017
Actor Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth’s co-star in the 1991 film Hum, also tweeted his wishes, calling him a “humble considerate human”.
T 2758 – My dear friend , my colleague and a humble considerate human, RAJNIKANTH, announces his decision to enter politics .. my best wishes to him for his success !!🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/dByrmlZb2c
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 31, 2017
However, contrary to the others, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy dismissed Rajinikanth’s political entry as “media hype”, calling the actor “uneducated” and “corrupt”.
“Rajini is an uneducated man. What will he tell us? This is a just an age-old story of another Tamil actor joining politics. I will always oppose Rajinikanth. Tamil Nadu’s image can only improve when it gets rid of cinema stars. He has still not announced a political party,” said Swamy.
“Let him announce a political party name and candidates, then I will expose him,” Swamy told.
Let him announce political party name and candidates and then I will expose him: Subramanian Swamy,BJP on #Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/7rgIFvj1Ky
— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2017
“This is a joke, Tamil Nadu requires something serious. The mood in Tamil Nadu is to get rid of all the film stars in politics. Rajini is entering politics at the wrong time and place. He should be worried, in fact, that all his black money trail will come into the limelight. The people of Tamil Nadu will not fall into Rajini fan clubs’ song and dance. Fans club cannot become a political outfit,” added Swamy.
Earlier while addressing fans on the valedictory of a six-day-long meet, the actor said he will launch a political party which will contest all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. He said the party will be launched ahead of assembly elections at an appropriate time.
He further added, “About Lok Sabha polls, I will decide then. I am not here for money or fame, you have already given that to me a thousand times over. I am not enamored by position or post.