Rajinikanth not to contest Tamil Nadu Assembly bypoll
Chennai: Top film star Rajinikanth on Sunday said he would not contest the bypoll expected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, nearly a month after declaring that his target was only the Assembly election.
While bypolls are expected to 21 Assembly constituencies in the state, Rajinikanth, when asked if he would fight the bypoll since he had declared the Assembly polls to be his only target, tersely said, "No."
The actor is yet to launch his political outfit, though on December 31, 2017, he had announced that his political entry was sure to fructify.
To questions like which party he would support (in the bypolls), Rajinikanth told reporters at the airport here, "Sorry, I cannot say anything now."
Asked whether he had meant a national or a regional party when he had mentioned last month that only that party should be supported which would resolve the "water problem" of Tamil Nadu, he said, "Both."
On February 17, Rajinikanth had said "water is Tamil Nadu's important problem" and asked his fans and people to vote for a party whom they thought would permanently resolve the issue by formulating and implementing projects.
The jargon "water problem" is perceived as a reference to water scarcity in parts of the state and the vexed Cauvery issue as well.
Rajinikanth had strongly pledged his support for interlinking rivers on more than one occasion in the past.
The top actor had also said last month that he would not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
"Our target is only the Assembly polls. I am not supporting anyone," he had said and barred anyone from using his images or the flag of the Rajini Makkal Mandram for political purposes.
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Bengal: Hundreds stage protest over 'threats' by TMC workers
Kolkata (PTI): Demanding safety after counting of votes, hundreds of villagers staged a protest in Falta in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, alleging they were receiving life threats from TMC workers in the area.
The protesters, many of them women and holding BJP flags, blocked the road in Hasimnagar village, alleging that local panchayat pradhan Israfil, a close associate of TMC candidate Jehangir Khan, issued them threats of attacks after poll results are announced.
The CRPF deputy commandant visited the area with a large force and assured the demonstrators of ensuring their safety.
Khan dismissed the allegations and said the women were "deployed" by the BJP to stage the demonstration and engineer the arrest of TMC functionaries in the area before the counting to "harm the morale of the TMC supporters".
"If the charges are proved, I am ready to face the law," he said.
Fatima Bibi, one of the protesters belonging to the BJP's Mahila Morcha, claimed Israfil and his men "have been visiting the area since April 30 and threatening us that there would be bloodshed from May 5. We demand CRPF remain in the area".
The CRPF official said, "We are here to instill confidence among the people with support of the local police, We have assured them of full security."
An Election Commission official said a report has been sought about the protests from the district administration.
