Tamil Nadu assembly polls: Aadhav apologises after Rajini calls remarks ‘untrue’

Chennai: Hours after actor Rajinikanth termed as "untrue" remarks by TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna that he dropped his political plans due to threats from DMK, the latter expressed regret, saying he would "sincerely apologise" if his comments had hurt the actor's sentiments.In his statement on X, Rajinikanth said Aadhav's claim was contrary to facts. Rajinikanth thanked political leaders, film personalities and fans who condemned Aadhav's remarks, including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, DMK minister S Regupathy, BJP leaders Nainar Nagenthran and L Murugan for backing him. Rajinikanth ended the statement with the line "Time will not speak, but it will wait and respond." While some interpreted the concluding remarks as a message that truth would reveal itself in due course, some of his fans saw it as a warning to TVK that an appropriate response would be given at right time. By the time Aadhav apologised, his claim that Rajinikanth dropped his political plans due to DMK's threats had spiralled into an online battle between DMK and TVK cadres. Sensing that TVK was facing a backlash, Aadhav Arjuna, who addressed a public meeting in Kolathur on Tuesday evening, said his earlier remarks were intended to highlight the alleged arm twisting actings adopted by DMK and not to suggest that Rajinikanth was directly threatened. Aadhav said his intention was to "record what I see as the DMK's strategy" and not to insult the actor. "From his statement, I understand that he may have been hurt… If you are upset, I sincerely apologise," he said, adding that Rajinikanth was elder to him.INSET: Aadhav Arjuna said that the party was given an offer of `50:50' and `chief minister's post for two and half years', but TVK president Vijay had refused them. Arjuna said Vijay was a not a person who will `succumb to Delhi' for the sake of CM post. ``They gave us all sorts of offers. From 50:50 to 90 seats and the CM post for two and half years, lot of offer was made. All that annan (Vijay) said was that he doesnt want CM post. All that I want was to TN people's trust. TVK will be strong enough to form a secular govt,'' he said speaking at the election rally in Kolathur.