Rajinikanth to launch party in January; to fight 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 3

Ending years of suspense, megastar Rajinikanth on Thursday finally announced the launch of his long-anticipated political party in January ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly elections for which the BJP has tied up with the ruling AIADMK against the DMK which won majority of seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections

Announcing December 31 as the day when he will be announcing the launch date of the party, Rajinikanth promised “wonder and miracle” while predicting a “sure win” for his party in the upcoming polls.

“We will surely win the assembly polls and give honest, transparent, corruption-free, spiritual politics without caste and creed. A wonder and miracle will definitely happen,” he tweeted in Tamil.

“I am ready to sacrifice even my life for the sake of Tamil people. It is now or never. If I win it will be the people’s victory, even if I lose it will be their defeat,” he was also quoted as saying ahead of the first assembly elections in Tamil Nadu after the demise of DMK and AIADMK doyens, former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa.

Rajinikanth’s announcement shows the BJP’s southern dream is also falling in place, say observers.

While the ruling AIADMK led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam rediscovered faith in alliance with the saffron party after Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit, observers are suggesting positive vibes from Rajinikanth who has so far been keeping fans and supporters guessing on his political moves.

Though Shah’s message to state leaders is clear that the BJP should build and expand on its own strength and not depend upon celebrities and outsiders etc, sources say the megastar conveyed his “feelings” to Shah via RSS ideologue S. Gurumuruthy.

MK Alagiri, son of the late Karunanidhi, is also believed to have sent his “intent of support” via KP Ramalingam, an ousted DMK leader who recently joined the BJP.