From the time that Rajnikanth announced that he would definitely stand for elections, there have been changes and setbacks. On 12 March 202...
From the time that Rajnikanth announced that he would definitely stand for elections, there have been changes and setbacks. On 12 March 2020, Rajinikanth met briefly with the mandram [Rajini Makkal Mandram] chiefs and then left for the Leela Palace where his fans were gathered to hear his latest announcement. As his black Audi approached the hotel’s entrance, frenzied fans rushed forward shouting, ‘Superstar vaazga! Varungaala mudalvar vaazga! (Long live the Superstar! Long live the future chief minister!)’.
Once inside, the seventy-year-old actor, clad in his trademark white kurta-pyjama, walked briskly onto the dais and stood before the microphone. As the thunderous applause subsided, he began to speak. It was a thirty-minute monologue, emotional and defensive. He outlined ‘three novel proposals’ – ‘limited number of party posts to curb corruption, bringing youngsters and clean people to politics and place them in pole positions in the corridor of power and him not being the Chief Minister….’ He asked the people to ‘please stop projecting me as the next chief minister. Tell people about my ideas and let there be a resurgence…. I will come then.’
It became clear from his announcement what the crux of the matter was. It appeared that he had...
