Rajinikanth extends support to Modi's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' mission
What's the story
Superstar Rajinikanth has extended his support to PM Modi's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign by posting a tweet. Earlier this week, Modi wrote a personalized letter to celebrities and industrialists to support this initiative. Rajinikanth's tweet comes at a time when there has been speculation about his entry in politics, even as screen rival Kamal Hassan expressed greater clarity about his political ambitions. Know more!
Twitter Post
Rajinikanth tweets his support for PM's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' mission
I extend my full support to our hon. Prime Minister @narendramodi ji’s #SwachhataHiSeva mission. Cleanliness is godliness.
— Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) September 22, 2017
Plans
What has Rajinikanth revealed about his political plans?
In May 2017, when Rajinikanth addressed fans in Chennai, in what seemed almost like a vote appeal, he had said, "Let's meet when it's time for war." What sparked everyone's imagination was his clarion call that "the system is rotten. We should change the system." When he was directly asked about his entry, he said, "If God wills it, I will enter politics tomorrow."
1996 comment
Meanwhile, this wasn't the first frenzy regarding Rajinikanth's political comments
Rajinikanth had normally stayed away from political comments. However, in 1996 elections, as TN was reeling under Jayalalithaa's corruption scandals and nephew's extravagant wedding, Rajinikanth said, "If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even god cannot save Tamil Nadu." Subsequently, Jayalalithaa's AIADMK faced a crushing defeat with only 4 seats. It was unclear whether this was a co-incidence or Rajinikanth's words had this effect.
Party
Will Rajinikanth float his own party?
Recently, Rajinikanth has reportedly met a lot of political leaders. A political leader claims that Rajinikanth said he "was being pressurized… not from family or fans, but a central party." Another said that Rajinikanth wanted the "river interlinking project" as his main agenda and that he didn't have a clue about how to form a new party.
BJP
Has BJP been sending Rajinikanth overtures?
IE reports that BJP has shown interest in roping Rajinikanth and had invited him to meet PM Modi. In addition, Nitin Gadkari had also said that there was an "appropriate place" for him in BJP if he plans to join. BJP, which has no presence in TN, may be wooing Rajinikanth to be the face of the party to gain in-roads.
Do you know?
But is Rajinikanth ready to take the political plunge?
Rajinikanth may be delaying his political entry as this might end his film career, which is at a crucial stage with 2.O and Kaala worth Rs. 600cr gearing up for release. However, this publicity around his political entry might give him a great opening.
State
What does all this mean for the state's politics?
The state's politics has been in disarray since Jayalalithaa's death. AIADMK has been experiencing in-fighting, DMK has been clamoring for fresh elections and BJP has been trying to make in-roads. In this scenario, TN, which has a soft-corner for celebrity-turned-politicians, might welcome Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan as new faces of TN's politics. However, it also depends on how both will take the political plunge.