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Kollywood superstar Rajinikanth said that he never aspired to become a Chief Minister, instead he would appoint a honest and talented youngster as the chief minister, when his prospective political party is voted to power.
“I have never imagined myself to be a chief minister even in my dreams and people of Tamil Nadu know this from 1996,” Rajinikanth said at a press conference here on Thursday.
1996 campaign
The actor was referring to his 1996 campaign supporting the DMK-TMC alliance, which led to the ousting of AIADMK government headed by late J Jayalalithaa.
The press conference, the actor said, is to put to rest speculation surrounding the formation of a political party and its strategy. On March 5, the actor held a meeting with the district secretaries of Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM). It was widely reported that some of the district secretaries expressed disappointment about the actor’s decision to opt out of chief minister’s post.
“Some people say I am doing a political stunt in the name of sacrificing the chief minister’s post but I have not said this now, but way back in 2017,” Rajinikanth said sharing a video of his speech addressing his fans on December 31, 2017. The actor had then urged his fans to get ready for the war (referring to political battle).
“If I was power hungry I could have become chief minister way back in 1996,” the 69-year old actor said adding that he did not aspire for any posts when he was 45 and would not do so now.
Focus on youngsters
Instead, he said, his prospective party would focus on including a substantial amount of youngsters in the age group of below 45 years while the rest would comprise retired judges and IAS and IPS officials among others.
“I would assume the post of party leader and nominate a honest, talented, self-confident and self-respected youngster as the Chief Minister,” Rajinikanth said adding that the youngster could also be a woman.
The actor also noted that there is a huge political vacuum in Tamil Nadu after the demise of J Jayalalitha and M Karunanidhi and the time is ripe for an uprising where young and educated people, who were away from politics, should be brought in to create a ‘movement’.
Recalling his earlier statement that the ‘system’ in the State is not proper, Rajinikanth said, he has laid out three plans to bring about change in politics.
Reducing the number of party posts, allowing more youngsters to contest in elections and separate leadership for the party and the government, are the three plans, the actor said.
“People in Tamil Nadu are used to the culture of having the same leader for both the party as well as the government. I think it is essential to separate the two for some change in politics,” Rajinikanth added.
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