Haasan calls on Rajinikanth ahead of his maiden political journey

Three days before the launch of his political party on February 21, actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan called on his contemporary and competitor Rajinikanth at his Poes Garden residence in Chennai on Sunday.

Haasan spent 10 minutes with Rajinikanth and later described it as a courtesy call to seek his best wishes for the political journey that he is scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Ramanathapuram. He is also said to have invited Rajinikanth to participate in his rally at Madurai the same evening he announces the name of his political party. “It is a courtesy call. Not a political meeting. Rajini wished me good luck,” Haasan said when asked about the possibility of an alliance.

Rajinikanth too maintained a similar line. “He had come to wish me and I wished him good luck in all walks of life,” he said.

Though the short meeting fuelled speculation, political analysts rule out the coming together of the two superstars, given the political positions they have taken. While Rajinikanth is perceived to be closer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has spoken of ‘spiritual politics’, Haasan had declared that he will have nothing to do with the BJP. In his utterances and actions, Haasan has taken a left of the centre stand and has hobnobbed with the likes of AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Haasan, who has been a trenchant critic of the ruling AIADMK, is scheduled to address a public meeting and later unveil his party flag in Madurai and also address a rally.

Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are still three years away.

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