11-13-2008, 02:53 PM
<b>Will Rajnikanth throw his lot behind BJP?</b>
13 Nov 2008, 1020 hrs IST, TNN
CHENNAI: Senior BJP leader L K Advani on Wednesday called on actor Rajnikanth at his residence in Poes Garden in Chennai, triggering speculation
about the superstar's political plans, but sources said the BJP veteran sought Rajni's support to boost his prospects of becoming the next prime minister. While the two held discussions for close to half an hour, Rajnikanth was later present at Narada Gana Sabha for a function in which the Tamil translation of Advani's autobiography, 'My Country, My Life' , was released. ( Watch )
According to sources, during the meeting over tea, Advani invited the superstar to campaign for the party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The meeting comes close on the heels of another actor-turned-politician and BJP leader, Shatrughan Sinha, saying on Saturday that Rajnikanth's fans were in for "a big surprise". Talking to reporters later after the function, Advani said the superstar had been "pressing" him for a long time to visit his house. "Today, I accepted the invitation and met him this evening at his house. This has been a longtime desire for him and for me and it was fufilled this evening. We talked about a lot of things, including his film, 'Sivaji' ... I quoted to him his public statement that he would take the political plunge at God's call. I told him that I appreciate that." On his part, the actor, when asked if he had been invited by Advani to campaign for BJP, was non-committal , merely saying, "nothing, nothing."
The meeting also revived talks of Rajni overcoming his prolonged hesitation to plunge into politics. In the run-up to the 2004 LS elections, as PMK cadres targetted Rajnikanth films, actor threw his weight behind the AIADMK-BJP combine . "My vote is for the BJP," he had then said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/W...how/3707446.cms
13 Nov 2008, 1020 hrs IST, TNN
CHENNAI: Senior BJP leader L K Advani on Wednesday called on actor Rajnikanth at his residence in Poes Garden in Chennai, triggering speculation
about the superstar's political plans, but sources said the BJP veteran sought Rajni's support to boost his prospects of becoming the next prime minister. While the two held discussions for close to half an hour, Rajnikanth was later present at Narada Gana Sabha for a function in which the Tamil translation of Advani's autobiography, 'My Country, My Life' , was released. ( Watch )
According to sources, during the meeting over tea, Advani invited the superstar to campaign for the party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The meeting comes close on the heels of another actor-turned-politician and BJP leader, Shatrughan Sinha, saying on Saturday that Rajnikanth's fans were in for "a big surprise". Talking to reporters later after the function, Advani said the superstar had been "pressing" him for a long time to visit his house. "Today, I accepted the invitation and met him this evening at his house. This has been a longtime desire for him and for me and it was fufilled this evening. We talked about a lot of things, including his film, 'Sivaji' ... I quoted to him his public statement that he would take the political plunge at God's call. I told him that I appreciate that." On his part, the actor, when asked if he had been invited by Advani to campaign for BJP, was non-committal , merely saying, "nothing, nothing."
The meeting also revived talks of Rajni overcoming his prolonged hesitation to plunge into politics. In the run-up to the 2004 LS elections, as PMK cadres targetted Rajnikanth films, actor threw his weight behind the AIADMK-BJP combine . "My vote is for the BJP," he had then said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/W...how/3707446.cms