Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth said on Sunday that he was in support of the Centre’s ‘One India, One Election’ proposal.
Addressing the media outside his Poes Gardens residence, the superstar said that the proposal to hold simultaneous elections for assemblies and Lok Sabha is a good idea.
His comment came at a time when nearly every major political party has expressly voiced their opposition to the proposal.
Rajinikanth’s contention was that a single election would save money and time of political parties.
A few days ago, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam said that the party is not in favour of the Centre’s idea.
In a letter to the Law Commission, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) said that it wanted to complete the state government’s tenure which ends in 2021.
Main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) joined AIADMK in opposing the Centre’s proposal.
Rajinikanth also said that the decision on whether his party will contest next year’s Lok Sabha elections will be taken later.
“Only time will tell,” he said in response to a question on his official political debut.
The 67-year-old superstar, who was recently seen in the box office blockbuster ‘Kaala’, also backed the proposed Chennai-Salem eight lane expressway on the ground that such projects would bring in industrial investments and advance the lives of the people through employment opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion of Kamarajar’s 116th birth anniversary, Rajinikanth said that the government should see that only minimum farmland is acquired for the project and the land owners are compensated to the extent that they feel happy.
According to reports, Rajinikanth avoided commenting on BJP chief Amit Shah’s statement that there is a lot of corruption in Tamil Nadu.
“The media should ask him,” he said.
Rajinikanth praised Tamil Nadu School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan stating that the education system in Tamil Nadu is better than anywhere else in the country.
(With inputs from agencies.)