With actor Rajinikanth overseeing a pan-Tamil Nadu drive to identify and appoint office-bearers to the Rajini Makkal Mandram, sources close to the actor say he is insistent that the organisation provides ‘fair and adequate’ representation to the oppressed sections, importantly Dalits, women and minorities, among the appointed office-bearers.
Sources in the outfit say that this guideline was followed even in the latest announcement related to the appointment of office-bearers in Vellore district.
“We have a Muslim member and a Dalit in the list. We will keep this as a guiding principle,” the source said.
“Rajini sir wants this to be an organisation with a difference. We wanted to correct the long-standing problem with other political parties and provide more representation to the minorities, women and the Dalits and put them in positions of power,” the source saids.
People in Mr. Rajinikanth’s close circle are confident that the membership drive and appointment of office-bearers, which is going on in full swing, will be completed at the earliest. The actor had reportedly set a target of 5 lakh members for the Rajini fan club members in each district.
South-Chennai based G. Ravi, a fan of the actor, said it were the youngsters who were typically joining the fan clubs since the membership drive was announced by Mr. Rajinikanth on January 1. “So far, around 10,000 people have filled up the forms and joined the Mandram. I hope to get 50,000 members before thalaivar’s wedding anniversary,” he adds.
It is expected that the actor will create a party infrastructure before the announcement of the party.
