While Rajini's announcement of unveiling his political party in January 2021 could have become his birthday gift to his fans and the members of the outfit as they got what they had been waiting for a long time, it has on the other hand become an impetus in stirring a political storm in the state, which would be witnessing a fresh political race with Rajini being the captain. 

Rajinikanth is celebrating his 70th birthday on December 12 and the actor has on Thursday put an end to the suspense and years-long delaying drama after he announced that he would be launching the political party and he would make an official announcement concerning the party on December 31, 2020. Through his announcement, he had asserted that he would be contesting in the upcoming assembly polls which is crucial for the ruling and opposition leaders in attaining a significant tone of victory as it would be the first legislative election since the demise of Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi.

Rajinikanth's announcement, which has come months ahead of the assembly polls, had pushed the political parties to brace up the fresh challenge in the campaign trail. While his announcement had drawn mixtures of reactions from the political leaders, it had stirred the political debate on Rajini's politics and whether he would contest independently or will form an alliance. Rajinikanth had appointed Arjuna Murthy, who was close to BJP, as his party's chief coordinator, and his pick had done rounds on social media with the speculations that the actor is getting closer to the BJP. Amid such developments, the state ruling ADMK has apparently hinted that the party would ally with Rajinikanth. 

On Thursday, following Rajini's announcement, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and ADMK leader Panneerselvam had welcomed Rajini's decision of launching a political party. Addressing the reporters, Panneerselvam said that the ruling party welcomes Rajini's entry into politics. By citing that nothing is predictable in politics, the deputy Chief Minister asserted that the alliance can be formed with Rajini if there's an opportunity.  

Responding to the question of whether Rajini's entry would damage ADMK's vote bank ahead of the election, Panneerselvam said that ADMK is made up of volunteers and it would be impossible to damage its vote bank in the state. The ADMK leader said that the party will continue as a banyan tree and will serve people regardless of who enters politics. Panneerselvam said the alliance can be talked about after the actor forms the party. 

The ADMK leader hadn't negated to shake the hands with Rajinikanth, which the political observers say that the ADMK wouldn't miss the opportunity of allying with the actor and political freshman for the assembly polls. However, the ADMK-Rajini alliance wouldn't be possible leniently as it would cause the intra-party furor and dispute in ADMK over the CM candidate as when the party had already named Edappadi Palaniswami as the CM candidate, the fans and members of Rajini Makkal Mandram would demand Rajinikanth be the CM candidate of the alliance, which BJP won't be having a second thought. 

Moreover, his political entry could likely cause a divide in major political parties as the members of the decades-old Dravidian parties would be mulling to join fresh politics led by Rajinikanth. On Thursday, following his announcement, Rajinikanth addressed the reporters during which he said, "I am ready to give my life to the people of Tamil Nadu. A political change is extremely essential at this hour. If it is not done now, it will be never done. We should change everything. I request with folded hands to those who had made my livelihood, to stand by me". The superstar said that the party work has already been started.

Rajinikanth had said that an honest, righteous, transparent, casteless, secular, corruption-free, and spiritual politics will be formed in Tamil Nadu in the upcoming assembly elections with great support from people for sure. The actor vowed that wonder and miracle will happen. His announcement of launching the political party has come three years after he announced that he will enter politics. 

While addressing his fans in December 2017, he said that he would enter politics to change the system. It must be noted that three years back, he also has said that he will contest in the assembly polls independently. However, the political observers say it's unlikely that he would go independently in what would become one of the tightly fought races of power. He would either move close to BJP or would consider speaking with his long time friend Kamal Haasan, who has now become a politician. The reports say that with Rajini's entry and Sasikala's release likely to occur parallelly, it would directly affect the ADMK in its bid to retain the power. As ADMK ready to face fresh challenges both internally and externally, the party is mulling to consider Rajini as a friend than as a political foe as Rajini's entry and Sasikala's release might adversely affect the ADMK, when the party is already queued with heated allegations and a lack of stable face and leadership, with both the current leaders are pitching to become a strong successor of Jayalalithaa.