Indian silver screen superstar Rajinikanth had made his much-anticipated entry into politics on 31st December 2017 by announcing a party which is yet to be named. He also made the promise of his party fighting in all the seats in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections in 2021. Rajinikanth is one of the few people in the country who does not maintain a dubious stance on any given topic, howsoever delicate the situation might be. This had become clear after he visited the victims of the Thoothukudi police firing in the anti Sterlite protests. Rajinikanth had said, “Anti-social elements have infiltrated the protests and created trouble. The people, who participated in the protests, including the fishermen, are innocent. Same thing happened in the final day of Jallikattu protests”. He further added, “The whole trouble started when anti-social elements started attacking the police. The problems started then. I will never accept policemen in uniform being attacked”. This was a very bold and positive statement coming from a leader who was still to make his foray into active politics.
Rajinikanth made it clear that he is not going to change his stance even when he received harsh words in reply from the Leftist and pro-Dravidian parties in the state and the rest of Southern India. Rajinikanth and his stance on the matter were proven right a few days back when fishermen from Therespuram in Thoothukudi came out to openly proclaim that youth from the villages had been instigated by lawyers from a far left fringe group, Makkal Adhikaram. The fishermen have submitted a written petition to the district legal services authority stating the same, which further proves the point raised by Rajinikanth earlier. With the involvement of left fringe groups in the anti Sterlite protests becoming clear today, it will probably take just a few days to nab the real instigators and bring them to justice. This could be a fresh start for politics in Tamil Nadu and for the Thalaiva’s supporters too.
If he chooses to stay in active politics in the years to come, Rajinikanth could fill the political vacuum created by the demise of J Jayalalithaa. Thalaiva’s entry into politics would also mean the beginning of an era of nationalistic politics in Tamil Nadu which could cut short the lifespan of Aryan-Dravidian politics in the southern part of the country. India needs leaders like Rajinikanth, who have it all and are yet willing to sacrifice everything even their reputation to improve their lands. His supporters have been campaigning ever since the news of involvement of left fringe groups in the anti Sterlite protests came out. The hashtag “Andre Sonna Rajini” crossed over 1 lakh mentions in the matter of a few hours. The leftist cabal and divisive political players from the southern part of the country have remained mum ever since the truth has come out thanks to the innocent fishermen, and they are likely to remain silent for a long time to come. After all, when the Thalaiva Rajinikanth speaks, everybody listens, in both reel and real life.