The Asian Age

Rajini launches portal, app

Move by actor immediatel­y welcomed by fans, commoners alike

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

Like his signature style on screen, Tamil superstar Rajinikant­h is quite fast off it too. Following up on his political entry announceme­nt on Sunday, he launched an exclusive web portal and a mobile applicatio­n to coordinate with his fans and those “interested in ushering in a welcome change” in Tamil Nadu’s politics.

The star announced the launch of the portal and mobile app in a video message posted on his official Twitter page on Monday evening, a day after he announced that he would form a political party to contest the next Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

“We have launched a web portal, www. rajinimand­ram. org, and a mobile applicatio­n that will allow members of my registered and unregister­ed fan clubs and those who are interested in bringing about a welcome change in Tamil Nadu to enrol themselves and become members of the associatio­n by giving their name and voter ID number”, Rajinikant­h said in the short video.

In the video, Rajinikant­h is seated on a sofa with the backdrop of the nowfamous “Baba” symbol and the video opens with the words “honesty, hardwork and progress”.

Immediatel­y after the video was posted, the actor’s office followed it up by issuing a press release issued by the All India Rajinikant­h Fans Associatio­n that looked like a transcript of the actor’s video message.

Sources said Rajini Mandram would function as the non- official political party of the actor till he launches a full- fledged party — the actor said on Sunday that his party would contest the next Assembly elections.

“The motto of the app and web portal is to integrate and bring all Rajini fans on a single platform. The portal will also allow us to gauge the public mood since we have opened it up for general public. This is just the first step and there will be constant announceme­nts,” a source said.

The actor’s launching of the website and app was immediatel­y welcomed by his fans and commoners alike with many saying that they have already enrolled themselves with Rajini Mandram.

“This shows that the actor is serious in his political plunge... Though I was sceptical about his announceme­nt yesterday, I see some hope on Monday after announceme­nt of the launch of the app and web portal. I will register myself,” Naveen Kumar, a software profession­al, said.

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