Superstar Rajinikanth is expected to make his much-awaited political foray by September next year.

According to the Times of India, the actor, fondly known as 'Thalaivar' among his fans, is set to rebrand his fan club - the Rajini Makkal Mandram, and launch it as a party with a new name. Once launched, he is expected to lead an alliance in the 2021 assembly poll.

The website quoted multiple sources close to the actor saying that the party's aim will be to propagate an effective civil political discourse to fill the void left by former DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) president M Karunanidhi and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary J Jayalalitha.

Rajinikanth is reportedly closely in touch with senior leaders of the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janatha Party) while drafting his policial strategy, and is likely to place several demands before the Narendra-Modi led central government.

In a meeting held on November 12, the Rajini Makkal Mandram's Tanjavur Unit is even said to have passed a resolution pledging to make the actor the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

As Tuglaq editor S Gurumurthy put it: "Tamil Nadu needs a catalyst and Rajini can definitely be that. He is not confused and has his own calculations."

Thalaivar has three movies lined up for release next, with AR Murugadoss' Darbar slated for a Ponggal release next year. A second production by Sun Pictures expected to see a Deepavali release next year, and a third project will have powerful content and message to mark the start of the actor's political reign, said an industry source.

If the party takes off, Rajnikanth will not be the first South Indian actor to have transitioned from the silver screen to politics.

His predecessors include yesteryears actor MG Ramachandran (MGR), and J Jayalalitha, both of whom have spent stints as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Rajinikanths's counterpart - Ulaganayagan Kamal Hassan also started his own political party Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2018, and his party contested in parliamentary elections in May this year.


Source: Times of India
Photo source: Qatar Rajini Makkal Mandram Facebook