Vinayak Barot
NEW DELHI, Dec 29: Citing health concern, veteran actor and superstar Rajinikanth in a U-turn decided against taking a political plunge or to launch his party outline of which he was expected to announce on the last day of the current year to be ready to contest in the coming state Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
The 71-year old noted actor, who was admitted in a hospital on Friday due to high blood pressure and released on Sunday but with the advice for a week’s complete bed rest, made the unexpected announcement through a three-page statement on Twitter, seeking pardon from his supporters.
“It is with profound regret that I have to say that I will neither be launching my political party nor entering politics. Nobody can understand my pain in making this decision,” he wrote.
Rajinikanth’s elder brother, the 77-year-old R Sathyanarayana Rao, who lived in Bengaluru, when contacted said it was his actor brother’s wish and no one could force him to change his mind. About people’s “expectations” from him as and when he joined politics, Rao said: “We too believed that (he would launch the party).” But since he has cited health reasons “we can’t force him. It’s his wish (not to launch party). Whatever decision he has taken, that’s definitely right,” he said.
Rajinikanth’s political entry was anticipated since 1996 particularly because of the grand success in politics of the celluloid superstars in Tamil Nadu. He too had time and again dropped enough hints about his intention to take a plunge in politics for which he said he was waiting for an opportune moment. Earlier this month, he made positive announcement that he had finally decided to “enter politics even if there was a risk to my life” and would give outline of his political outfit, which would be a “non-corrupt transparent” organization, on December 31. But on Tuesday he said he did not want to “sacrifice the lives of others by taking the plunge.”
“After announcing that I would be starting a party in January, I participated in the shooting of Annaatthe in Hyderabad against the advice of doctors. We were taking all necessary precautions during the shoot with 120 people. In spite of that, four people tested positive for Covin-19. The director immediately suspended the shoot and asked everyone to get tested. I tested negative but had fluctuations in my blood pressure. Medically, I should not have any fluctuations because of my kidney transplant. I was under the supervision of doctors for three days. Considering my health, the producer, Kalanithi Maran postponed the shoot,” the actor wrote.
Rajinikanth said a lot of people had lost their jobs and the film had incurred losses amounting to crores of rupees due to his ill health. “My health is the reason for these hardships. I see this as a warning sent by the Almighty,” he said.
The actor said once he formed a political party, he would not be able to win if he could only campaign virtually. “All those with enough political experience will not deny this fact… I might have to attend several meetings, go for campaigns and meet lakhs of people. With a small shoot of just 120 people, I had to spend three days in the hospital. With the mutation of Covid-19, even if there is a vaccine, I will be putting people at risk while campaigning,” he said.
Rajinikanth said, “I am taking immuno suppressant tablets, but should anything happen to me, all those around me may be affected, both financially and psychologically.”
The actor apologised to the people who had been looking forward to his political debut and said he would continue to serve the public without entering politics.
