Superstar Rajinikanth, who has kept his fans guessing on his plunge into politics, is expected to make a big announcement today. For many months, Rajinikanth has been cryptic about his entry into politics. In May, he triggered fan frenzy when he said, "If God wills it, I will enter politics tomorrow".

The superstar has spent the last five days meeting with his fans. On Tuesday, addressing fans at the beginning of a six-day outreach he gave the biggest indication yet of his plans as he said, "I am not new to politics. I'm there since 1996. I don't say I am entering politics. I will announce my stand on politics on December 31." In 1996 Rajinikanth had asked the people to support the DMK government and not its charismatic opponent J Jayalalithaa, famously declaring, "Even God can't save Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa comes back to power again". The DMK swept the state polls in 1996 but later the superstar later described as "a mistake and an accident".

"I am hesitating about joining politics since I know the difficulties. If we go for a war we ought to win. Valour alone won't do. We need strategy," he said. Pointing to his biceps and then his temple, he added: "Not this (muscle), but this (strategy). I'm ready to form party and contest all Tamil Nadu seats in next assembly elections."