After keeping his fans on tenterhooks for many years, actor Rajinikanth announced on December 31, 2017, that he will take the political plunge and contest the next Assembly elections. A year later, his supporters are still waiting for him to lay out concrete plans and an ideology for his party.
The year 2018 began with a bang — the actor set up the Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM), the launch vehicle for his proposed political party, on January 1 to bring all his registered and unregistered fan clubs under one umbrella. Subsequently, he met senior political figures in Tamil Nadu, including former DMK president M. Karunanidhi and former AIADMK stalwart R.M. Veerappan – all in the first week of January.
In the same month, he sent a team to tour the State and set up a party structure, beginning with the appointment of district secretaries to the lowest block in the party chain. By April, the party structure had been created and its cadre given member enrolment targets (at least 30 members in each booth). Over the next few months, RMM cadre worked towards delivering on their targets.
With the political project seemingly going full steam ahead, it was expected that Mr. Rajinikanth would launch his party by the end of the year. But the expectation did not materialise.
Speaking to The Hindu , an RMM office-bearer said that though the cadre were disappointed over the delay, the party was actually ready to be launched.
Controversies
It did not help that Mr. Rajinikanth was embroiled in a few controversies. Despite having clearly stated that he won’t comment on political issues till he launched his party, he was forced to do that in some instances. Apart from having to clarify whether he was being propped up by the BJP, he also appeared to have lost his cool when he said the protests against Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi had been infiltrated by anti-social elements and that continuous protests would turn T.N. into a graveyard.
RMM office-bearers said his preference to contest primarily in the Assembly elections had certainly delayed the launch of his party.
“The reaction has been mixed on the ground – a section of his fans feels he should launch the party because they are facing challenges on the ground. They are feeling the negativity. But Thalaivar seems to be very clear that he won't contest in the Lok Sabha election,” an office-bearer said.
