POLITICALLY CORRECT

1995: Met then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and complimented him on the liberalisation of the Indian economy

1996: Declared famously that ‘even God cannot save Tamil Nadu if the AIADMK returns to power’. The party lost the assembly election

2012: At a book launch, used a dialogue from his film Padayappa (My path is a distinct one) to reveal his political ambitions

2014: Welcomed Narendra Modi to his Chennai home days before the Lok Sabha polls

May 15, 2017: In his first session with fans in over a decade, said, “If God wills, I’ll enter politics. If I enter, I will be very truthful and will not entertain people who are in this to make money”

May 19, 2017: Dropped more political hints when he told fans, “The system is rotten and needs to be changed, be ready for the battle”

December 31, 2017: Announced he will launch a political party before the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly poll and contest all 234 seats. Said ‘truthfulness, hard work and growth’ will be the guiding slogan of the party

January 1, 2018: Launched rajinimandram.org and android app Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM), asking fans to register by giving their names and election card numbers

March 6, 2018: Delivered his first public speech as a politician at the Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai. “I have a duty towards the people and that’s why I have come into politics”

August 28, 2018: Released RMM rule book for joining his movement; among other things, it bans party flag on cars, use of cutouts/ banners without permission, mandates police clearance for events, forbids participation in meets where garlands and gifts are exchanged and advertising in the media