TN ASHOK / CHENNAI
SUPER STAR of Tamil cinema Rajinikanth on Sunday announced his decision of floating a new political party in Tamil Nadu and to contest the next Assembly Elections.
At the culmination of a three-day interaction with his fans, the matinee idol categorically said, he would float a party and field his candidates in all 234 Assembly constituencies. He said, his political plank would be based on spirituality, without any caste or religious basis.
However, he said, his party would not contest the forthcoming civic polls for want of time. About the next Lok Sabha polls, he clarified that he would make his stand clear when the elections are announced. He stressed, he is not after positions, adding, it was not his aim even during his youth.
Various political leaders and film personalities have reacted to Mr Rajinikanth’s decision to enter politics.
The AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam has said, everyone has the right to come to politics in a democratic country. The DMK working president MK Stalin has welcomed his decision saying, the DMK never feels threatened as it is a principles-based political movement.
The BJP leader and Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan has also welcomed Rajinikanth’s entry into politics. Popular cinema stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and many others have wished him on his decision to enter politics. AIR correspondent reports the lingering question in the minds of thousands of Rajinikanth fans, if he would take a plunge into politics or not, has at last been answered by him.
His films for long used to have punch dialogues with political connotations, leaving many of his fans with the belief that they could get a political platform with his cinematic appeal.
Tamil Nadu has for long been a fertile ground for film actors to have another innings in their careers as politicians.