In a surprise move, Superstar Rajnikanth on Sunday announced that he will not contest Lok Sabha Polls 2019 and will not tender his support to any Political Outfit. His statement comes amid speculation about whether he will plunge or not. In a statement released on the letterhead of his fan club, Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) he stated clearly that his name and should not be used to gain votes anywhere in a run-up to the Lok Sabha Polls 2019.
‘I am not going to contest Lok Sabha Polls 2019, as my aim is to contest state polls in Tamil Nadu. I am not supporting any political party in LS Polls as well so don’t use the Party’s symbol or my name to gain votes in the Polls’ Superstar Rajnikanth said in a statement.
The 68-year-old actor, who has worked in over 200 films, appealed to his fans: “Tamil Nadu’s main problem in the coming elections will be water. Any party that will form a strong and stable government at the Centre and which can solve the water crisis of Tamil Nadu permanently through schemes and give an assurance to fulfill them should be given support and fans should vote on that basis.”
While announcing his entry into Politics, Rajnikanth had said earlier that he would able to provide good governance on the lines of what the late MG Ramachandran had done.
His longtime Film Colleague Kamal Haasan had also entered politics last year and floated his political outfit. Haasan has recently announced that his party will contest all 40 seats of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on its own and would not go with ‘tainted groups’.
READ: MNM’s Chief Kamal Haasan likely to go ‘alone’ in LS Polls 2019, says ‘Won’t align with tainted Groups’
Reacting on the development about Rajnikanth opting out of Lok Sabha Race, Kamal Haasan took a jibe and said, ‘you were thumping your thighs yesterday, why were you thumping? Just for sound?”. He added, ‘wrestlers cannot get ready, oil up, come to the ring and say that they will fight another day as that would mean losing their respect’.
Apart from Kamal, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and AIADMK leader KP Munusamy too commented on Rajinikanth’s decision. While Jayakumar said that Rajinikanth has expressed that he will not contest and wished him luck, KP Munusamy alleged that he (Rajinikanth) was only giving interviews to the press and not meeting the people. “We are meeting the people,” he said.
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