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

LIVE: Sasikala, Ilavarsi sent to jail in disproportionate assets case

She visited Jayalalithaa's memorial before leaving for Bengaluru

Over 500 police officials can be seen a t the Golden Bay resort, wheer the MLAs are staying. The police battalion has reached with Kuvathur village.

Sasikala visits MGR Memorial House before heading to Bengaluru.

AIADMK MLA Saravanan files complaint against Sasikala and Edappadi Palaniswami for allegations including kidnapping, says report

Sasikala and two others have started their journey to Bengaluru to surrender before the court. She will visit Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach before going to Bengaluru.

Sasikala asked for two weeks time to surrender from the Supreme Court, but apex court turns down.

She has now filed a plea before Bengaluru Special Court seeking two weeks time to surrender citing ill health.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai says soon review petition will be filed against the SC order.

He said, "I am sure Chinna Amma (Sasikala) will come back soon and will rule the State."

He also welcomed the appointment of Dinakaran as Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK.

Sasikala will be driven down to Bangalore to surrender.

Pannnerselvam camp led by Minister Pandiarajan planning to visit the private resort, where Sasikala supporting MLAs are staying, to urge them to rethink decisions taken yesterday and stay united. | Read more

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Sasikala-backed Edappadi Palaniswami to be Tamil Nadu CM

Palaniswami invited by governor to form government

SPECIAL WEEKEND NEWS All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Legislative Party Chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, who has the backing of the jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, will take oath as the Tamil Nadu chief minister on Thursday evening. The development comes after he was invited by the state's acting Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to form the government. Palaniswami has been given 15 days to prove his majority.

According to media reports, the swearing-in will happen at 4.30 pm at Raj Bhavan. Palaniswami will be the 21st chief minister of Tamil Nadu. 

Tamil Nadu's MLAs and ministers have stayed away from their offices for eight days in a row due to the political crisis in the state, which has resulted in the state's administration grinding to a halt.

The governor's decision on the issue had been pending as the verdict in the disproportionate assets case against AIADMK general secretary Sasikala, who was a claimant to the chief minister's chair, was due to be announced by the Supreme Court. Since the apex court delivered its verdict on Tuesday, restoring Sasikala's conviction and sentence, her hopes of occupying the top seat have been shattered.

Earlier in the day, Palaniswami's chances of becoming the chief minister had looked bright, since he was backed by Sasikala and claimed the majority support from AIADMK MLAs. 

On Wednesday, Sasikala and two of her relatives surrendered in a Bengaluru court to serve the remaining three years, 10 months and 27 days sentence in a Karnataka prison.

Before she left Chennai, Sasikala appointed her sister's son T T V Dinakaran, who was dismissed by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, as the party's deputy secretary. The position had been vacant for nearly 17 years.

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