Will he, won’t he? The possibility of Superstar Rajinikanth taking the plunge into politics has been the subject of speculation for years now. It’s also no secret that the BJP has been wooing the actor for some time now. But senior party leader Subramanian Swamy thinks little of the superstar’s prospects in the political arena.
Speaking to reporters in Tamil Nadu, Subramanian Swamy reacted to continuing speculation about the star’s political ambitions by saying, “Rajinikanth doesn’t know politics.”
Swamy was at his most sarcastic while talking to reporters. “Do you still want actors in politics? Are you not tired already? Now we should only have politicians in politics,” he said.
When asked how he would react if Rajini did decide to enter politics, Swamy said, “Why should he come to politics? His talent is in films. He doesn’t know politics.”
Rumours that Rajini would take the political plunge surfaced in March, when it emerged that the actor was scheduled to meet members of his fan club. Many reports had interpreted the actor’s meeting as the occasion for announcing his entry into politics.
Rajini had, however, clarified after much media speculation, “The meeting on April 2 was long due as fans wanted photographs. There is nothing political about that and no major announcement (is expected). The fans are meeting on April 2 and I will be meeting them from April 11 to 16."
Just days ahead of the event, however, Rajini announced on April 8 that it had been cancelled.
In an audio message sent to fans, the superstar said, "It has been 10 years since I met all of you and took photos. You have been asking me over and over again but the time was not right. But now after planning this event at Raghavendra Kalyana mandapam, fans have expressed disappointment. They do not want group photos, they want individual pictures. There is justice in their demand." He then went on to say, that given this widespread feeling of disappointment, he is cancelling the event.
The superstar has remained reluctant to join politics, despite overtures from several parties, including the BJP.
Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi visited Rajinikanth at his residence in Chennai. The photo opportunity with the superstar was an attempt to boost the BJP’s performance in Tamil Nadu ahead of the polls.
In April 2004, Rajinikanth had voiced his support for the BJP-AIADMK alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. His decision was based on BJP’s promise that it would strive for interlinking of India’s rivers as a solution to the drinking water crisis.
But it’s the 1996 Assembly Elections that the superstar will be most remembered for. His single statement against the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK is believed to have had a bearing on the outcome of the polls. Rajinikanth had said, "If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even god cannot save Tamil Nadu." The DMK-TMC alliance went on to sweep the Assembly Elections.