Rajini mania is set to grip Chennai as the superstar will meet his fans for four days. From May 15 to May 19, Rajinikanth will meet nearly 5,000 fans and take pictures with them individually at the Raghavendra Marriage Hall. It is after eight long years that Rajinikanth is interacting with his fans.
However, there will be no speeches, discussions or announcements from the superstar. And this time too, he is expected to keep his fans and the people of the state second-guessing on the long-pending question, “Will Rajinikanth enter politics?”
The superstar has been contemplating entering politics since 1994, but it is yet to happen. While speaking at the audio launch of his movie Lingaa in 2014, he made it clear that he was not afraid of entering politics but was only a trifle hesitant. This was when the BJP was trying to rope him in.
“I am a product of circumstances. So, if a situation arises, I could enter politics. I am only hesitant because I know the depth of politics, I have to step on so many shoulders,” said Rajinikanth, when director Ameer asked him to seriously consider entry into politics.
In the 1996 assembly elections, Rajinikanth had opposed the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram, and the then DMK-TMC alliance had swept the polls in Tamil Nadu. His stand against Jayalalithaa was perceived to have worked in the DMK's favour.
In 2004, he supported the BJP-AIADMK alliance despite his stand on Jayalalithaa.
It is yet to be seen if, like MGR and Jayalalithaa, Rajinikanth can succeed in politics by building a strong cadre base and cash-in on his popularity. MGR was strongly wedded to the Dravidian Movement and that gave him the space to get into politics. However, his contemporary Sivaji Ganesan did not make it big in politics despite tring hard.
Jayalalithaa also found success following her mentor MGR's path, and she played the anti-DMK-anti-Karunanidhi political card to her advantage. Vijayakanth’s political journey seemed successful, but did not take off as expected as he could not consolidate the Dravidian votes.
Now, with the split within the AIADMK, and Karunanidhi too off the political scene, Rajinikanth may look like the right person to fill the political vacuum. There is a chance that disgruntled elements in every political party might line up behind him.
Thalaivar's political entry might be further delayed considering his hesitation and the effect such a decision entails.
