TVK leader sparks row with claim that DMK 'threatened' Rajinikanth

A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after a senior leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam alleged that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had threatened superstar Rajinikanth when he considered entering politics.

Aadhav Arjuna, general secretary of the party founded by actor-turned-politician Vijay, made the remarks while addressing party members during a protest against the state government on March 12. His comments quickly drew criticism from political leaders and Rajinikanth’s supporters.

During his speech, Arjuna claimed that after the era of former Tamil Nadu chief minister MG Ramachandran, Rajinikanth had aspirations to emerge as a popular political leader and bring systemic change. However, he alleged that members of the DMK leadership family pressured and threatened the actor, ultimately discouraging him from entering politics.

Arjuna also remarked that Rajinikanth eventually returned to acting and was now working under the banner of Red Giant Movies. He added that his intention was not to criticise the actor but to highlight what he described as the political courage of TVK founder Vijay.

The comments triggered immediate backlash. Rajinikanth’s former advisor R. Arjunamurthy strongly condemned the statement and urged Vijay to take action against Arjuna. In a post on social media platform X, he said such remarks created unnecessary controversy and showed disrespect toward a widely respected public figure.

Tamil Nadu minister S Regupathy also rejected the allegations, accusing TVK of attempting to gain political mileage by spreading false claims. Speaking to reporters, Regupathy said Rajinikanth had maintained friendly relations with the DMK and had even supported the party during the 1996 elections.

Fans of the veteran actor also criticised the claim, stating that Rajinikanth’s decision to step away from politics was linked to concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than political pressure. Some supporters said the actor chose not to risk public gatherings that could endanger lives.

The controversy has since sparked debate on social media and within political circles, with critics demanding clarification and action from the TVK leadership over the remarks.

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With inputs from PTI

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