Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder and acclaimed actor Kamal Haasan is poised to make his debut in the Rajya Sabha, following a political agreement with Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK. Elections for eight Rajya Sabha seats – six from Tamil Nadu and two from Assam – are scheduled for June 19.
Haasan’s MNM formally aligned with the DMK-led alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As part of the alliance, he was offered a choice between contesting a Lok Sabha seat or securing a Rajya Sabha nomination. The 70-year-old chose not to enter the Lok Sabha fray, despite his party’s full support for the DMK-Congress coalition in Tamil Nadu.
While joining hands with the DMK-led front, Haasan emphasized that his decision was rooted in national interest, rather than personal political ambition.
This marks a notable shift in Haasan’s political journey. When he launched MNM in 2018, it was envisioned as an alternative to the state’s dominant Dravidian parties – DMK and AIADMK.
The actor-politician had previously hinted at his entry into Parliament during MNM’s 8th founding day celebration in Chennai. “This year, our voice will be heard in Parliament. Next year, your voice will be heard in the State Assembly,” he declared.
The Rajya Sabha term of six MPs from Tamil Nadu – Anbumani Ramadoss, M Shanmugam, N Chandrasegharan, M Mohammed Abdulla, P Wilson, and Vaiko – is set to end on July 25.
Given the current composition of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, where the DMK holds 134 seats, the party is expected to win four of the six Rajya Sabha seats. The remaining two are likely to go to the AIADMK, which has renewed its alliance with the BJP.
