New Delhi: It’s official now; the matinee idol of millions and for many years, Rajinikanth is now all set to launch a formal political party and participate in the next year’s assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.
In the words of BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy, it is “interesting times” in Tamil Nadu politics.
In a tweet, the superstar said that further details of his political party will be announced on December 31. He also promised to bring about an “honest, spiritual government”, hinting towards a “miracle”.
“We will surely win assembly polls and give honest, transparent, corruption free, and spiritual politics. A wonder and miracle will definitely happen,” he said, according to media reports based on his missive in the micro blogging site in Tamil.
Recently, after his supporters and close aides urged the megastar to take a plunge into politics, Rajinikanth had responded by asking him if they were ready to “start a political party in January”. Meanwhile, a wide range of political reactions are coming in close on the heels of the mega announcement.
“Rajinikanth has been a chela (follower) of spiritual leader Dayanand Saraswati and used to visit him at Rishikesh. That way, he is not anti-Hindutva but that may not be his main plank,” Dr Swamy told Times Now television.
The remarks have added its own significance as there is wide speculation about the possibility of his proposed political party’s alliance with the BJP, which has already entered into an alliance with the AIADMK.
Shortly after Rajinikanth’s announcement, cinestar-turned-politician Khusbu Sundar, who recently joined BJP, said, “everyone is welcome to join us”. Khusbu also advised her erstwhile party colleague Karti Chidambaram not to worry much about whether Rajinikanth’s entry into politics will affect BJP’s alliance with the AIADMK.
“Is the alliance between AIADMK and BJP still on after this announcement? Will BJP Tamil Nadu unit clarify?,” Chidambaram had tweeted earlier.
Answering questions on various local issues in the southern state, veteran politician Dr Swamy said – “So far after MGR and Jayalalitha, no cinema star has been able to make a dent in Tamil Nadu politics. Vijaykanth was also a great cinema actor then Shivaji Ganesan was hero of the cinema world for many years, but he also could not do….I think, the AIADMK and DMK structures are so well set that you have to have a very strong organisation to be be able to make a dent and convert your popularity into a vote”.
He also said the future of BJP-AIADMK alliance would also depend a lot on V K Sasikala, who had served as Late Jayalalithaa’s closest friend and aide for nearly three decades until the powerful AIADMK supremo breathed her last in December 2016.
Sasikala was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for amassing assets disproportionate to her known income and a court had sentenced her to four years in jail.
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