Rajinikanth addressed media criticisms regarding his meeting with former Chief Minister MK Stalin after the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results. He clarified that his friendship with Stalin, spanning nearly four decades, was the reason for the meeting, and he expressed disappointment over Stalin's loss in Kolathur. Responding to allegations of jealousy towards the newly elected Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay, Rajinikanth stated he is not involved in politics and thus has no reason to feel envious. He emphasized that he congratulated Vijay on social media and pointed out the significant age gap of 25 years between them, making comparisons inappropriate. Rajinikanth praised Vijay for his political achievements, noting that he has surpassed what influential leaders like MG Ramachandran (MGR) and NT Rama Rao (NTR) accomplished at the same age. He acknowledged the high expectations placed on Vijay and advised patience regarding his performance, suggesting that it would take at least two years to assess his leadership. Additionally, Rajinikanth reflected on his own political ambitions, asserting he would have won the 2001 elections had he contested.