Will Thalaiva take the plunge? Rajinikanth politics in Movie-mad Tamil Nadu

Rajinikanth’s comments to his fans were as cryptic as Kamalahaasan’s comments on state politics

Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sharath Kumar, Vijayakanth…take your pick. In movie-mad Tamil Nadu, the transition from a film actor/director to politics is effortless. And, the latest chatter is about Rajinikanth joining politics. This is not the first time. Before the 2009 general election, a gathering of diehard Rajini fans converged at a small temple in Rajapalayam to pray that their icon get a divine message and join politics.

With the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in a shambles after Jayalalithaa’s death and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam seemingly powerless in wresting power, the state is sensing a leadership vacuum. Rajinikanth, once a bus conductor in Karnataka, who then made good in Tamil Nadu’s film industry, was supposed to meet fans from April 12 to 16. This meeting, for fans to get themselves photographed with the legendary actor, would have been the first time in 10 years that the star met his admirers personally.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on Rajini at the latter’s residence a few days before the 2014 Lok Sabha poll. Last week, Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary H Raja said Rajini was a “popular” personality and welcome to join their party. Rajini on board the BJP will be an electoral trump card for the latter, yet to make inroads in the state.

Sensing that his fans would ask questions about political options, the April 12 meeting never happened and was postponed indefinitely, to be then held in Chennai last week, in truncated form. “Please don’t ask political questions,” he told reporters when they quizzed him about joining politics. To his fans, the actor said: “My life is in the hands of God. I’m not sure what he has in store for me. But, I will always perform the duty that he bestows on me. So, don’t feel disappointed if I don’t enter politics.” ReadMore

Sena steady, BJP makes big gains, Congress decimated in Maha civic polls

Shiv Sena is leading in 84 seats, BJP 80, while Congress 31 in BMC

The ruling Shiv Sena appeared all set to retain control over the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India's biggest and richest civic body, election officials said on Thursday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was pushed to a distant second slot in Mumbai in the civic body elections held across Maharashtra.

Of the 227 BMC seats, the Sena led in 84, still short of the 114 needed for a simple majority.

The BJP had won 80 seats while the Congress was at a distant third with 31 seats to its credit.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was poised to win 10 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) eight and the All Indian Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen four.

Stunned by the outcome, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam offered to resign from the post.

Buoyed by its imminent victory in Mumbai, Shiv Sena supporters celebrated across Mumbai.

The BMC had an annual budget of Rs 37,000 crore in 2016-17. Read more

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