Chennai: Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Monday expressed his regret at supporting the DMK-led alliance 21 years ago, claiming it to be a “political accident”.
The 66-year-old actor, however, he said he would not allow "wrong people" to join him if he takes a plunge into politics in the future.
“About 21 years ago, I was involved in a political accident, during that time for some reasons I had announced my support to a political coalition. And my fans and people of Tamil Nadu ensured a victory for that coalition. Since that day my name is being dragged in every time there is an election. And that’s the reason I keep clarifying that I don’t support any political party every time,” Rajinikanth said, while addressing a ‘darbar’ in Chennai with his fans after a gap of eight years.
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In 1996, Rajinikanth had lent his support to the DMK-TMC (Tamil Manila Congress). Rajinikanth's entry into politics has been the subject of speculations for many years. Like MG Ramachandran and late J Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu, and NT Rama Rao in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.
“If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even god cannot save Tamil Nadu,” the iconic actor had said in 1996. Attributing Rajinikanth’s comments, the DMK-TMC alliance swept the elections that year.
Continuing to maintain his intriguing stand over joining politics, Rajinikanth said that some people used his name for “political gains”.
"Some of my fans urged me to join politics and it's not bad even to enter politics, but making money out of this is bad…If in case I decide to join politics, then those making money will not be entertained," he added.
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The veteran actor also said he will never disappoint his fans in acting.
Rajinikanth is not known for making political statements. However, there were speculations that he might join politics but they were later ruled out by the actor himself.
Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met him in Chennai, but both later clarified the visit was just a courtesy call.
In March this year, he met music composer Gangai Amaran, who was the BJP candidate in the prestigious RK Nagar bypoll. However, the superstar later tweeted that he was not supporting anyone in the elections.
