Actor Rajininkath to launch political party in Jan, to announce date in Dec

The iconic actor said the exact date of the launch will be announced on December 31

After a long wait, 69-year-old actor Rajinikanth finally decided to make his political foray public. He will launch a political party in January ahead of the state Assembly elections next year and plans to make the announcement in this regard on December 31, he said in social media posts on Thursday.
 
The actor appointed Tamilaruvi Manian to supervise the party and Arjunamurthy Ra as the party’s chief coordinator. Arjunamurthy was president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu unit’s Intellectual Cell and attended Amit Shah’s meeting in Chennai a few days back. He resigned from the party on Wednesday.
 
The announcement comes a day after Rajinikanth met senior office-bearers of his fans forum, the Rajini Makkal Mandram. Later on Wednesday, he said he would announce his decision on electoral politics soon.
 
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rajinikanth said: “I am ready to give my life to the Tamil people. I will never falter on this. A political change is imminent and extremely necessary now. If not now, never. We should change, change everything. After I enter politics, if I win or lose, all of it belongs to the people. With folded hands I request those who have made my livelihood here to stand by me.”
 
“Party work is humungous. It must be done. It has already started. Tamilaruvi Manian has been appointed as supervisor (or manager). He has supported me since I said I will enter politics. I have the confidence that I will win. Everybody has a fate, similarly every state/country has a fate. The time for TN’s fate to change has come,” he added.
 
The actor-turned-politician said there needs to be an uprising among the people and only after that can there be politics. “I wanted to tour the whole of Tamil Nadu but corona (virus) put a stop to it. Due to my health condition doctors also advised me against touring Tamil Nadu and talking to people in person,” he said.
 
Rajinikanth had first announced his decision to enter politics in December 2017, but hadn’t made any big announcements or political statements since then.
 
In the meanwhile, his colleague Kamal Haasan floated the Makkal Needhi Maiam (People’s Justice Party) and contested the 2019 parliamentary elections and is preparing to field candidates in all 234 Assembly seats next year. Haasan has said he will not align with any of the Dravidians parties.
 
Rajinikanth’s next film project ‘Annaatthe’ is produced by former chief minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M Karunanidhi’s grandnephew Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner. Rajinikanth will turn 70 on December 12.
 
Rajinikanth will be the latest entrant from the Tamil film industry, which has provided the state with five chief ministers — C N Annadurai, Karunanidhi, M G Ramachandran (MGR), Janaki Ramachandran, and J Jayalalithaa. Several others have also made the switch from cinema to politics in the state.
 
State Cabinet minister and senior leader of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) D Jayakumar said his party’s vote bank will not be affected by Rajinikanth’s entry.