S Gurumurthy refuses to rule out Rajinikanth's political plunge; hints at 2025

In a big claim on Thursday, Tughlak editor S Gurumurthy refused to rule out the entry of Kollywood superstar Rajinikanth into the electoral politics of Tamil Nadu. On December 29, 2020, Rajinikanth dashed the hopes of thousands of his supporters by going back on his decision to join politics. Though his fans held a huge demonstration at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai on January 10 demanding the actor to reconsider his stance, the latter made it clear that there is no change in his plan. 

Gurumurthy maintained that there is no point in blaming Rajinikanth for his U-turn. To buttress his point, he pointed out that there was no replacement if the superstar's health deteriorated after launching a political party. However, the Tughlak editor predicted that Rajinikanth could float his outfit in the lead-up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. 

S Gurumurthy remarked, "There is no point in criticizing Rajinikanth. What if he started the party and then had a problem with his health? So you can't even blame him. But I will say, this isn't his full stop...Let's see maybe 2025." 

Read: 'Many Of The BJP People Are Associated With Rajinikanth Now', Says Congress

Rajinikanth's U-turn on political plunge

On December 3, 2020, Rajinikanth announced on Twitter that he would make the formal announcement of his political party on December 31 followed by the party's launch in January 2021. He wrote, "In the forthcoming Assembly elections, with the support of the people, it is certain that honest, monetary, transparent, non-corrupt, secular and secular spiritual politics will emerge in Tamil Nadu". Speaking to the media at his Poes Garden residence, Rajinikanth stressed that he would not go back on his promise to form a party and contest the 2021 Assembly polls in TN. 

Rajinikanth told the media, "This corona is a big problem. When I was bedridden, I got my life back because of your prayers. Now I don't mind even if I die. Political change is very certain. Everything needs to be changed. If not now, then never. You, the people, will have to decide. I'm coming. My victory is the people's win and my defeat is that of the public. I appeal to all of you to stand by me to bring these changes."

However, the situation took a turn for the worse after four crew members of Annaatthe, the film for which the Kollywood actor commenced shooting, tested positive for COVID-19. While Rajinikanth tested negative for the novel coronavirus, he was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad on December 25 following severe blood pressure fluctuations. After being discharged from the hospital on December 27, he was advised bed rest for a week and minimal physical activity. 

On December 29, Rajinikanth attributed his staying away from electoral politics to health reasons. Conceding that he won't be able to launch a public campaign owing to the COVID-19 situation, the filmstar revealed that he didn't want the people working with him to suffer mentally and financially. At the same time, Rajinikanth stressed that he would continue working for the people without entering politics. 

Read: 'BJP & Rajinikanth To Work Together' Predicts Gurumurthy; Hints At New Turn In TN Politics