Rajinikanth has kept his fans waiting with expectations about his big political announcement.
The superstar has spent the last five days meeting with his fans. On Tuesday, addressing fans at the beginning of a six-day outreach he gave the biggest indication yet of his plans as he said, "I am not new to politics. I'm there since 1996. I don't say I am entering politics. I will announce my stand on politics on December 31."
"I am hesitating about joining politics since I know the difficulties. If we go for a war we ought to win. Valour alone won't do. We need strategy," he said. Pointing to his biceps and then his temple, he added: "Not this (muscle), but this (strategy)."
Here are the live updates of Rajinikanth's much expected political announcement :
My decision is the need of the hour. Time has forced me into this say's Superstar Rajinikanth.
Rajnikanth say's finally that ," If we will not deliver within three years, we will resign." Further say's, "We will think good, do good and all things good shall happen. "
I'm ready to form party and contest all Tamil Nadu seats in next assembly elections.
Ending day's of suspense Rajinikanth say's " My entry into politics is definite. It is confirmed. I will enter politics. "
"Wait for ten minutes for my announcement," says Rajinikanth as he leaves for Ragavendra marriage hall.
"I will make the announcement after reaching Sri Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam says Rajinikanth as he leaves from his Poes Garden residence in Chennai," says news agency ANI.
In 1996 Rajinikanth had asked the people to support the DMK government and not its charismatic opponent J Jayalalithaa, famously declaring, "Even God can't save Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa comes back to power again". The DMK swept the state polls in 1996 but later the superstar later described as "a mistake and an accident".
"Rajinikanth will have the support of women voters for sure," says fans outside Ragavendra marriage hall in Kodambakam, Chennai.
Rajinikanth: From Bus Conductor To The (Potential) Political ThalaivarOn screen he can do anything. But once the cameras move away, Rajinikanth has a remarkable down-to-earth persona. "(Because) nobody pays me to act in real life," the superstar, who enjoys a demigod-like status among the legions of his fans, said last year.
"Whatever the decision our beloved Thalaivar takes, we will support him. He knows how to do and what to do," says a fan at Kodambakam where Superstar Rajinikanth will make his announcement.
Big Rajinikanth announcement: For months, the superstar, whose fans call him "Thalaivar" or "Ultimate Boss", has been cryptic about his plans. His pronouncement in May led to a frenzy - "If God wills it, I will enter politics tomorrow". In October, it was his wife Lata Rajinikanth who predicted that a "lot of change" would happen when her husband joins politics.
Posters in Chennai that say if Rajinikanth takes the political plunge, he will be the next chief minister. "From 12-12-2017, we are all not his fans, we are all his cadre," Abdul Mallik, a fan, told NDTV.
"Long live Rajinikanth," chant Superstar Rajinikanth fans ahead of his arrival.
Rajinikanth expected to leave his Poes Garden residence in the next few minutes.
Fans gathering in large numbers at Raghavendra hall where Superstar Rajinikanth will make his much awaited announcement.
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