His brush with politics began much before he announced political ambitions, when he supported the DMK-TMC alliance in 1996 that helped it trounce the rivals. Since then, it has been a ‘to-be or not-to-be’ dilemma for Rajinikanth, known to his fans as a Superstar, who often delivered politically loaded dialogues in his films and occasionally extended soft support to politicians.
Chennai: Since then, his fans were expecting their leader to enter politics, which heightened after he made clear his political ambitions in 2017. They expected Rajini to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, as he began making political statements on his social media. However, he ruled out contesting general elections and also said Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) would not support any political party.
A few months ago, a letter that surfaced in social media said the actor was recovering from a kidney ailment, forcing Rajini to break his silence on the renal transplant he underwent in 2016. He said the doctors have advised him against entering politics. Sources said Rajini almost dropped his political plans in October citing poor health and also due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more : RMM sources confident of Rajini’s party launch on Dec 31
When his fans expressed their disappointment in public, Rajinikanth was forced to meet the key office-bearers on November 29 to discuss the political party’s launch. On December 3, as the suspense continued due to the absence of an official statement, he tweeted the decision to launch the party.
The same day, Rajini said he would fulfil his commitment and float a political party even at the cost of his life.
Also read : Rajinikanth discharged from hospital, advised complete rest
“If not now, it will be never; the time has come for a political and regime change in the State,” he said, which took expectations to a new high. Promising his fans that he would announce the party’s launch on December 31, Rajini said he would soon complete his latest movie “Annathey” shooting and would be back to Chennai to launch the party. This gave a new energy to fans and cadre to celebrate Rajinikanth’s 70th birthday.
However, it all changed after he was admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad for high blood pressure on December 25. Finally, on Tuesday, his ardent fans have been forced to give up the dream that they have been hoping for nearly 25 years.
A few months ago, a letter that surfaced in social media said the actor was recovering from a kidney ailment, forcing Rajini to break his silence on the renal transplant he underwent in 2016. He said the doctors have advised him against entering politics. Sources said Rajini almost dropped his political plans in October citing poor health and also due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more : RMM sources confident of Rajini’s party launch on Dec 31
When his fans expressed their disappointment in public, Rajinikanth was forced to meet the key office-bearers on November 29 to discuss the political party’s launch. On December 3, as the suspense continued due to the absence of an official statement, he tweeted the decision to launch the party.
The same day, Rajini said he would fulfil his commitment and float a political party even at the cost of his life.
Also read : Rajinikanth discharged from hospital, advised complete rest
“If not now, it will be never; the time has come for a political and regime change in the State,” he said, which took expectations to a new high. Promising his fans that he would announce the party’s launch on December 31, Rajini said he would soon complete his latest movie “Annathey” shooting and would be back to Chennai to launch the party. This gave a new energy to fans and cadre to celebrate Rajinikanth’s 70th birthday.
However, it all changed after he was admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad for high blood pressure on December 25. Finally, on Tuesday, his ardent fans have been forced to give up the dream that they have been hoping for nearly 25 years.
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