New Delhi, Dec 31: Ending the suspense over his political plan, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday announced that he will form a party and will contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu in next Assembly elections. While addressing a gathering at Sri Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in Chennai, the actor said,”My political entry is definite. Truth, work and growth will be the three mantras of my party. This is a long-pending decision. I will feel guilty if I don’t take this decision at least now.” The ‘Thalaiva’ however made it clear that he won’t contest the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Rajinikanth, who announced his entry as a ‘guardian of the protectors of democracy’, also expressed his fear of the media, and remembered late actor, humorist and political analyst, Cho Ramaswamy. “I don’t fear entering politics, but I fear the media. I am still a child in this context. I need to be more active and alert on the media. Cho sir had already warned me about the same. Today, I miss him a lot; he would have given me more strength for this new beginning,” said the superstar. (Also read: Rajinikanth Announces Political Entry, to Form New Party: Who Said What)
The Tamil superstar also called for a complete change in the democratic system, and urged for a more honest and transparent system to emerge.
“In the name of democracy, politicians are robbing us of our own money on our own land. We need to bring a change from the base. Democracy is in bad shape right now, all other states have been making fun of Tamil Nadu, I will feel guilty if I don’t take this decision now. It is not an easy task, but can be made possible through the support of the people and blessings of the almighty,” Rajinikanth said.
Soon after Rajinikanth’s announcement, his fans began celebrations in Chennai but Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s firebrand leader Subramanian Swamy took a dig at the actor and called him an illiterate. “He has announced his entry into politics, had no details or documents, he is illiterate. Its only media hype, people of Tamil Nadu are intelligent,” Swamy attacked the Tamil actor.
Last week, while addressing his fans in the Tamil Nadu capital, Rajinikanth had announced that he would disclose his political plans on December end. “I am not new to politics. I’m there since 1996. I got delayed. Entering is equal to victory. I will announce a decision on December 31. More than the people, the media was interested in knowing about my political plans. One has to win a war. Bravery is not enough to win the war. Strategy is needed,” Rajinikanth had said.
However, Tamil Nadu milk and dairy products developments minister KT Rajendra Balaji believed that Rajinikanth is too innocent to survive in politics. Talking to reporters on Friday, the TN minister had said,”It is too late for him to enter politics now. He would have succeeded in politics if he had entered around 20 years ago. Now as his fans are members of various political parties, it may be difficult for him.”