Rajinikanth on TVK: ‘Why should I be jealous of Vijay’
Chennai: Actor Rajinikanth Sunday clarified that his long-standing personal friendship with DMK chief M.K. Stalin goes beyond politics and dismissed speculation that he was unhappy with TVK founder C. Joseph Vijay’s victory in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu elections.
Addressing the media here, Rajinikanth said that he felt bad for Stalin’s loss in Kolathur and that TVK’s victory marked the end of the duopoly of the two major Dravidian parties.
“I am responding to criticism because if I do not respond to them, they will become accepted as the truth,” he said.
Adding, “Rajini is not a cheap or low-standard person to speak unnecessarily about anything else. As soon as the chief minister [Vijay] won, I conveyed my congratulations to him immediately. I am not jealous of Vijay, there is a 28-year age gap between us.
“Why would I be jealous of him becoming chief minister? I left politics years ago and he contested against two major parties in the state. Vijay has independently earned recognition by standing against the two major parties.”
Rajinikanth also said that TVK’s electoral success in its maiden election came as a surprise to him.
On why he did not attend Vijay’s swearing-in, the actor said he had never attended any chief minister’s oath-taking ceremony in the past either.
While congratulating the new chief minister, Rajinikanth cautioned Vijay’s fans and TVK workers. “Whatever they do will ultimately affect Vijay.”
Rajinikanth’s meeting with Stalin after the DMK’s electoral setback had sparked intense online debate, with some accusing him of backchannel political involvement and dissatisfaction over Vijay’s success.
Rajinikanth’s clarification appears to be an attempt to put an end to such speculation.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay keeps home, police, youth welfare depts for self; Sengottaiyan gets finance
