Tamil Nadu: Rajinikanth may prefer to be kingmaker, not the king – Times of India

CHENNAI: Actor Rajinikanth is expected to stick to his stand that he would lead his party in the 2021 assembly elections, but not be the chief minister candidate, multiple sources have told TOI. The actor is likely to spell this out when he meets reporters on Thursday after a meeting with Rajini Makkal Mandram district secretaries.
TOI had reported that Rajinikanth had, during his previous interaction with RMM office bearers on March 5, said no to the CM post-something which the gathering unanimously decried. At Thursday’s meeting, he is expected to draw the district secretaries into a discussion on projecting someone else as the CM-candidate.
“Since Sunday, several of Rajini’s associates have been meeting him, trying to convince him that he should be the CM candidate for the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly election,” said a source.
Rajini likely to spell out his political programme soon
The associate seeking anonymity said, “The actor has always said he was not interested in becoming the CM but keen on changing the system and political culture.” “He will reveal his mind tomorrow,” said Rajinikanth’s close associate and advisor Tamilaruvi Manian. Sources said Rajinikanth is likely to spell out his political programme that would include the formal launch of a party in the coming days. While his party’s electoral debut would be crucial for Rajinikanth, stakes are high for various players, particularly the AIADMK and the DMK. Chief minister and AIADMK co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister and party coordinator O Panneerselvam have a tough battle ahead to remain significant. For M K Stalin, who has had a long wait to give governance a shot, the poll fight is crucial to cement his leadership after the death of his father and former DMK chief M Karunanidhi.