Will support none, says Rajinikanth

Chennai: Scotching speculation that he might put his weight behind the BJP, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday said he will not support any political party in the byelection to R K Nagar constituency.

“My support is for no one in the coming elections,” the Tamil film icon wrote on his official Twitter page on Thursday morning. His statement clears the air on whether he would support the BJP’s candidate for the ensuing by-election, Gangai Amaran, who also happens to be his Kollywood colleague.

There has been intense speculation about Rajinikanth’s entry into politics at the behest of the BJP ever since AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5, 2016. The speculation only grew louder after Gangai Amaran called on the superstar a couple of days and claimed he has the “blessings” of Rajinikanth.

“This is just a trailer and the main picture is yet to come.” This loaded statement by Gangai Amaran, who has been fielded by the BJP in the high-stakes election for his film quotient, led to wild speculation whether the Tamil superstar, who has evading his entry into politics since 1996 when he openly appealed to the people to overthrow the then Jayalalithaa government, would take the first step in taking a plunge in politics by supporting the BJP candidate.

Rajinikanth’s statement on Thursday  put an end to all speculation about his possible entry into politics. The star had been keeping away from politics after his appeal to defeat candidates belonging to the PMK bombed at the hustings in 2004. Since then, Rajinikanth had been taking a neutral stand.The BJP tried to bring him into politics several times but in vein. 

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Rajinikanth’s house for a photo opportunity when he was in Chennai to campaign during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, but the star had been keeping away from supporting any political party.