1996 to 2020: Timeline of Rajinikanth's political interventions & how it impacted TN polls

Disputing popular accounts from several leaders in Tamil Nadu, veteran actor Rajinikanth addressed media on December 3, 2020, where he decisively claimed that he would enter politics and finer points of his party’s hierarchy will be charted out by January 1, 2021. Admittedly, news sent shockwaves across country as regional parties scrambled in frenzy to garner his support ahead of Lok Sabha elections due in April 2021. 

However, t too long after initial anuncement, a series of events seemed to strike a chord in actor who after being admitted to a Hyderabad hospital for high BP while on sets of ‘Annaat’ decided that it was a warning call from God to change his course of action. Citing 'supreme intervention' Rajinikanth abruptly called it quits and ended furr rumours on his supposed political entry in future. In his letter of apology to his well-wishers and party workers which actor shared on his social media handle, he explained reasons for sudden change of mind. 

While actor has put an end to nearly 3 decades of speculation, parties are still hopeful that his presence and his vocal support could turn tides a little in ir favour. Here’s a list of some of most critical times in recent political past that Rajinikanth has eir actively or passively extended his support and how that may have altered voting patterns.

Read | Rajinikanth meets spiritual guru Namo Narayanaswamy days after anuncing political exit

Timeline of Rajinikanth’s most table political activism

1996: Congress aligned with AIADMK sparking an internal row within Jayalalithaa’s camp. Ardent followers split from party and started a splintered regional faction in state — Tamil Manila Congress(TMC), which pledged allegiance to Karunanidhi's DMK. This election was particularly interesting because it was perhaps first documented time in Rajini’s career actor had made a public call for support for any party. actor had reportedly opined that if Jayalalithaa were to be voted back to power, 'even God cant save Tamil Nadu.’ 

actor’s political rally call was so fierce that it resonated feely with Tamil sentiments and a large faction of his fans. Due to which DMK-TMC alliance swept polls. actor’s statement on Jayalalithaa incumbent CM n was largely perceived to have contributed to deafening defeat of AIADMK.

Read | Rajinikanth aide Arjunamurthy won't desert superstar; says Modi & Rajini are his two eyes

2004: Defying his 1996 stance, actor once again pledged his vote for 2004 elections, but this time it was for BJP-AIADMK alliance. tably, his opinion and staunch criticism of Jayalalithaa had t changed but actor defended his stand by stating that he believed in NDA’s interlinking river call. He claimed that alliance was forged under assurance that parties would strive for interlinking of all rivers in country to solve drinking water crisis across nation. 

2008: in responding to a fan’s question on his foray into politics at a meet and greet, Rajinikanth had tably stated that it was all a ‘matter of time and circumstances, if timing is t right, thing can help.’

2014: Ahead of 2014 Lok Sabah polls, PM Modi called on actor at his residence in Chennai; while both Rajinikanth and PM Modi denied that re were any political inclinations it was understood that both held each or in great regard. PM ted that Rajinikanth was a ‘good friend and a well-wisher’.

2017: On Dec 31, Rajinikanth addressed his fans at his Raghavendra Hall in Chennai where he opined, ‘I’ve planned everything out, I only have to pull arrow w. My entry into politics is certain, I’m just waiting for war to come to me,’ he said. Even as fiery speech continued to entertain his fans he failed to set a timeline for it. 

Read | Tamil Nadu DyCM OPS says Rajinikanth took right decision in aborting political plunge

2018: In March, in a private ceremony at a college in Tamil Nadu where actor was invited as a chief guest to unveil MGR’s statue, Rajinikanth claimed that re is one like MGR but he kws how to serve people like him and that he will bring a ‘golden era’ in Tamil Nadu and politics with his governance when time is right. In October again that year he said 90% of work to ensure his party is operational in upcoming Lok Sabha polls in 2021 was completed. As time waned actor too continued to make promising statements until Dec 25 where he abjectly put an end to all speculations.

Rajinikanth’s tryst with politics

Since Rajinikanth's big 'political plunge' reveal in 2017,  BJP has been relentless in its efforts to woo veteran actor to join party. In 2014, following AIADMK’s general secretary Jayalalithaa’s conviction in disproportionate assets case and her subsequent return to Chennai after 21 days of jail, Rajinikanth ted that he was ‘very glad’ to see her back home in Poes Garden. BJP leaders have time and again tried to recall actor’s support to DMK-TMC alliance in 1996 and quipped that a repeat of simile backing to BJP would serve as a huge boost for party in Tamil Nadu. While actor has t shied away from praising PM Modi he has thus far refrained from publicly supporting BJP anywhere.

Read | 'Only Rajinikanth can exit politics without entering,' quips Singhvi on political pullback