Will Rajinikanth enter politics? Thalaiva to make announcement on December 31st

Amid speculations over his entry into politics, superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday said that that he would make the announcement on the issue on December 31.

The 67-year-old, while speaking on the Day 1 of the 'Fan Fest', said that he was not saying that he would announce his political entry on December 31st, but his decision on politics.

Rajinikanth's comments came after National Award winning actor Kamal Haasan announced last month about his decision to enter politics and float his own party after touring the state. Haasan took to Twitter to blast the ruling AIADMK government after the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa last year.

Addressing his fans, Thalaiva said that the media seems to be more interested in his political entry than the people, he said that he was in the politics since 1996, referring to his support to DMK-Tamil Maanila Congress to unseat AIADMK government led by the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa in the state polls.

"I know the pros and cons of the politics. That's why I am hesitating. Otherwise I would have been already in it," he said.

Recalling his statement that 'let us see when the war comes,' he asked did war means election? “If it is war, you have to win it. To emerge victorious in the war, one not only require courage but also strategy. I will tell my decision on politics on December 31," he said.

During his meeting with fans in May earlier this year, the actor triggered speculation on his political entry with his "the system is rotten in Tamil Nadu" comment. “We have good leaders but the system is rotten. This system needs to be changed and a change has to be brought in the minds of people, then only will the country flourish. Let us all work together to bring about a change,” he had said.

On the criticism that he is an outsider and not a Tamilian, Rajinikanth had said: “I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and Tamil Nadu for 43 years. Although I came as a Marathi from Karnataka, you people nurtured me, made me true Tamilian. I am a pure Tamil. My forefathers were from Krishnagiri district.” He added that if some in Tamil Nadu were to ask him to leave the state, he would rather go to the Himalayas than settle down in any other state.

Following the death of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi, there is more pressure from his fans to take a political plunge considering the political vacuum.

Tamil Nadu has a history of film personalities succeeding in politics. The film script writer - DMK founder CN Annadurai and his successor M Karunanidhi - went to become chief ministers while matinee idols - AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, and his successor J Jayalalithaa - also occupied the CM chair.