Rajinikanth’s comments come ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly election next year and almost after two years since he first announced the timeline for his party’s launch.
Superstar Rajinikanth today said he has “never imagined myself as Chief Minister” and that he “only want change”. His statements come ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly election next year and almost after two years since he first announced the timeline for his party’s launch.
“I had the opportunity in 1996 and did not take it up at 45. If I do it now, I would be called a fool,” Rajinikanth, 69, said in Tamil, revealing the much-anticipated ‘trailer’ of his political party at a press meet at Chennai’s Hotel Leela Palace.
Referring to the 2021 polls, he said he would be 71 by then and that it would not be possible that the opportunity for change would come later, when he was much older, referring to the subsequent elections.
“I have never imagined myself as Chief Minister. I cannot think of myself in the assembly, it is just not possible. I will be the party chief.
I know that for many of my supporters and well-wishers, this is not acceptable. But I cannot have it any other way. What is the meaning of my spiritual politics, if I come to politics to be Chief Minister,” Rajinikanth said.
“I only want a change in politics… If change in politics and government does not happen now, it will never happen,” he added.
Rajinikanth also clarified that he had publicly announced his intention to enter politics only on December 31, 2017, even though people keep making a reference to 1996 and say he has been having political ambitions ever since.
The other big takeaways from his press meet was that Rajinikanth, always known to be diplomatic, made a reference to be the two “jambavangal” (character from Ramayana) in Tamil Nadu who had dominated the political scene for the last 50 years or so. He made a reference to the money power of the ruling AIADMK and said the other party (DMK) was in waiting, hoping to cash in on the legacy of a leader who is no more.
