Tamil superstar Rajinikanth to launch political party & contest all 234 assembly seats

In November, he had told reporters that there was no hurry for him to enter politics.

Indian film actor Rajinikanth gestures as he arrives to meets his fans during a interaction session with fans in Chennai on December 29, 2017. Rajinikanth will announce his stance on politics on December 31. / AFP PHOTO / ARUN SANKAR

Chennai: Rajinikanth has finally cleared his political stance today. The megastar announced that he will launch his own political party and contest all 234 assembly seats in the state of Tamil Nadu. Political observers believe his entry is a threat to all regional parties as a political vacuum since the death of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa last year will be filled up by the 67-year-old actor. "I am joining politics for sure," the 67-year-old said amid thunderous applause from fans. Quoting a shloka from the Bhagwad Gita which stresses on the importance of doing one's duty and leaving the rest to the Lord, he said, "This is the compulsion of time." Addressing fans here on the valedictory of a six-day-long meet, the actor said he will launch a political party which will contest all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. He said the party will be launched ahead of assembly elections at an appropriate time. The policies of the party will be taken to the people, he said and added that truthfulness, hard work and growth will be the slogan of his party. "Do good, speak and only good will happen," will be the guiding slogan, he said. (WE BRING YOUR LATEST UPDATES BELOW FROM CHENNAI)

.@superstarrajini greet fans outside Raghvendra Mandapam after his announcement of "Entry in Politics" #RajinikanthPoliticalEntry @abpnewstv pic.twitter.com/spq7VyWRPM

— Pinky Rajpurohit (@Madrassan) December 31, 2017

.@ikamalhaasan appreciates @superstarrajini's stand on entering politics and welcomes him. The tweet reads: "I congratulate my brother Rajini for his social consciousness and his political entry. Welcome welcome." @abpnewstv #RajinikanthPoliticalEntry pic.twitter.com/eKfL98jn11 — Pinky Rajpurohit (@Madrassan) December 31, 2017

• Time has come for political change, system should change. I need support of everyone to bring change in system. In the name of democracy, those coming to power are swindling public money. This should change, says Rajinikanth.
• Politics in state needs to be changed; today the politics in TN has gone bad. Democracy is dying. One year of events in Tamil Nadu politics has brought us very bad name. There is a lack of transparency, we need to bring that transparency says Rajinikanth.
• I thank my fans for maintaining decorum. If we maintain order we can achieve anything: Rajinikanth.
• Someone asked me what’s my policy and my head started to swirl. Cho always warned me about the media. But I didn’t create this hype, just happened. Whatever I say it becomes a debate: Rajinikanth.
• Wage war, if you win, you’ll rule the country. If you die, you’ll have a brave death. If you don’t fight, they’ll call you a coward: Rajinikanth.

This is Big Breaking @superstarrajini to enter politics. Launch new party & contest all 234 assembly seats reports @Madrassan @abpnewstv https://t.co/GZaNZyvDsy — milind khandekar (@milindkhandekar) December 31, 2017

• I am entering politics, all work done. I am ready for politics. I'll be contesting in TN assembly election, on all 234 seats. To launch my own party, says Rajinikanth
• I am not scared of politics but I am scared of media says @superstarrajini at Raghvendra Mandapam: Rajinikanth

In the name of democracy politicians are robbing us of our own money on our own land. We need to bring a change from the base: #Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/T06FhxRpXV — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2017

Democracy is in bad shape right now, all other states have been making fun of us(Tamil Nadu), I will feel guilty if I don't take this decision now: #Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/E4d5Kc9hw7 — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2017

In next assembly elections I will form a party and will contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu : #Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/86ElT08qU3 — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2017

Wait for 10 minutes, you will get to know says @superstarrajini to media. #Rajinikanth @abpnewstv — Pinky Rajpurohit (@Madrassan) December 31, 2017

Will he or won't he! Thalaivar @superstarrajini to finally clear his stand on his "Political Entry". Stage set. Stay tuned with me on @abpnewstv for all live updates I bring you from Raghvendra Mandapam. @milindkhandekar@IamRajnishAhuja#Rajinikanthpic.twitter.com/5UIbEyqZ7G — Pinky Rajpurohit (@Madrassan) December 31, 2017

Speculation about Rajinikanth joining politics has arisen from time to time ever since his stinging denouncement of Jayalalithaa before the 1996 election, which she eventually lost. It has intensified after Jayalalithaa's death created a political vacuum at a time the aging DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, has been indisposed. The fluid political situation is being seen as a possible springboard for other actors as well with Kamal Haasan, another giant of Tamil cinema, also hinting at entering politics. In September this year, he had extended his full support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement, adding that "cleanliness is godliness". The two had exhchanged pleasantries during an event last month in Chennai. (With agency inputs)