Actor Rajinikanth, 68, today announced his political debut and said he will launch his own party to contest all 234 constituencies in the next assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, a move that could alter political alignments in the southern state.
That ends two decades of speculation over the entry of the actor, who enjoys cult status in Tamil cinema, in the political arena.
"I am joining politics and it is for sure," said the actor clad in a spotless white kurta and sporting a grey beard, amid thunderous applause from fans. "Everything needs to be changed" and "spiritual politics" needs to be ushered in, sans shades of any caste or religion with transparency, he said. “This is my motto and desire”, he said, appealing to people to support him.
During the era of kings, they plundered the countries of their enemies, he said. In democracy, parties were plundering their own people and such a "system" needs to be changed democratically.
Addressing fans in Chennai on the valedictory of a six-day meet, Rajinikanth asked for "volunteers," not cadres to see to it that those who prevent amenities and rights reaching the people are thwarted.
Asserting that he will not tolerate nepotism or corruption, he said, "I want volunteers who will keep vigil and who will not go to any officials, ministers or MPs, or MLAs for selfish needs." Such 'volunteers' should question whoever commit mistakes, Rajinikanth said adding he needed only such people for his party. "I am only a representative of the people to monitor such vigilantes."
He appealed to his fans to bring all sections of people into the club so that it could transform into a party and “till then there is no need to indulge in political talk which includes me”.
"Politics and democracy have gone pretty bad," he said and added some political incidents in the past one year in Tamil Nadu have made every Tamilian hang his head in shame and people of all other states were “laughing at us”.
The actor's remark is seen as a reference to the bitter infighting in the ruling AIADMK, allegations of rampant corruption, perceived political instability, and also the tax raids held at premises in the state including those linked to the ruling establishment, notably a minister and his associates. The RK Nagar Assembly bypoll in April was also cancelled following allegations of money distribution.
Quoting the Bhagawad Gita, which stresses the importance of doing one's duty and leaving the result to the Lord, the actor said "this is the compulsion of time." "Engage in war, if you win you will rule the nation, if you die you will go to heaven. If you go without waging war, they will call you a coward," he said quoting the scripture.
Entering politics was not for name or fame, he said. Why would he hanker for power now when he didn’t do that when he was younger, he said. In 1996, at the age of 45, he voiced his first political message against late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
The policies of the party will be taken to the people and truthfulness, hard work and growth will be the slogan of his party. "Do good, speak and only good will happen," will be a guiding slogan.
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