Superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday cleared the air around his meeting with DMK chief MK Stalin after his party’s defeat in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly election, saying he met the former CM as a friend, but it was misconstrued as disapproval of Vijay becoming the next Chief Minister.
Rajinikanth’s clarification comes after Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single-largest party and formed the government with the support of smaller allies, a development that could reshape Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu in the years ahead.
Addressing a press conference at his residence in Chennai’s Poes Garden, the legendary actor said he was not jealous of Vijay becoming the Chief Minister, as he is not in politics.
“Why would I be jealous of Vijay? Maybe if Kamal (Haasan) became the CM, I might get jealous,” he said in jest.
He said that he had congratulated Vijay as soon as the election results showed his party winning the polls, though he admitted he was surprised to see Vijay become the state’s CM in his first-ever election.
He also said that he was holding the press meeting because many criticisms were being made about him in connection with the election and that if he did not respond, they would be accepted as the truth.
“Rajini is not a cheap or low-standard person to speak unnecessarily about anything else,” he further said.
The Kollywood legend said that his friendship with Stalin goes beyond politics, adding that he was saddened by the former CM’s defeat in Kolathur. Stalin, who had represented the seat three times in the past, lost to TVK’s VS Babu by nearly 9,000 votes.
Noting the 24-year age gap between him and the new Tamil Nadu CM, Rajinikanth also praised Vijay for independently earning recognition by standing against the two major Dravidian parties — DMK and AIADMK.
Rajinikanth’s latest statement on Vijay’s spectacular political debut contrasts with his earlier silence on the matter. On May 12, when reporters asked about Vijay assuming office as the new CM, he chose not to comment.
Instead, he smiled, folded his hands in greeting, and walked past without making any statement.
The controversy surrounding his meeting with Stalin, coupled with his initial silence over Vijay’s victory, highlights the actor’s political significance in Tamil Nadu, where cinema and politics often intersect.
– Ends
Published By:
Aprameya Rao
Published On:
May 17, 2026 11:21 IST
