Chennai: Tamil actor Rajinikanth, who has been evasive about his political plans, kept up the guessing game on Tuesday in an address to fans in Chennai.
The actor said that he will announce his political stand on 31 December. “I don’t say that I will join politics. But my political stance will be revealed on 31st.”
The 67-year-old actor, who has films like 2.0 and Kaala lined up for release next year, said he is hesitant about joining politics since he is aware of the difficulties. “If we go for a war, we ought to win. Valour alone won’t help, we need to strategize,” he said.
Rajinikanth in a meeting with fans in May made some cryptic statements on his political plans. “I have my own duties and responsibilities and the same with you. So, go back home and do your work. But when the war comes, let us encounter it. God is there!” he said.
On Tuesday, he told his fans, “I’m not new to politics; I’m there since 1996.”
The superstar’s political stand has been much speculated upon since 1996 when he made a strong political comment that impacted that year’s election results. He had then extended support to the alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which swept the polls.
“If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even God cannot save Tamil Nadu,” the actor had said. His strong remarks against the late chief minister contributed to her All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AIADMK) defeat in 1996.
In May this year, Rajinikanth admitted he made a mistake by supporting the DMK-led alliance 20 years ago. “It was a political accident,” he said.
Interestingly, the actor’s meeting with fans comes right after T.T.V.Dhinakaran’s stunning victory as an independent in the R.K. Nagar bypoll, which is expected to realign the dynamics of the ruling AIADMK.
In the last one year, Tamil Nadu has witnessed high political drama after the death of Jayalalithaa. Actor Kamal Haasan has also shown an inclination to join in mainstream politics. He was expected to announce a political party on his 63rd birthday in November but he merely announced that he would launch a mobile app soon to connect with people.
Rajinikanth’s ‘meet and greet’ sessions with his fans in various districts will go on till Sunday.