Kamal Haasan set to enter Rajya Sabha with DMK support

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan is poised to make his debut in the Rajya Sabha, with the ruling DMK allocating one of its four seats to his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), for the upcoming elections. The move is part of an electoral understanding between the DMK and MNM ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The MNM has already passed a resolution confirming Haasan’s nomination. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin formally announced the party’s Rajya Sabha candidates on Tuesday. While P Wilson, poet Salma, and former minister SR Sivalingam will fill three of the four seats, the remaining one has been allotted to Haasan’s MNM, reflecting the party’s broader coalition-building strategy.

Haasan, who launched MNM in 2018, has long pitched his party as a credible alternative in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. However, his Rajya Sabha nomination comes amid fresh controversy. While promoting his upcoming film Thug Life, Haasan sparked a language row by claiming that Kannada was born out of Tamil. His remarks led to a sharp backlash in Karnataka, with BJP leaders accusing him of disrespecting Kannadigas and demanding an apology.

Despite the row, Haasan’s likely entry into Parliament marks a significant political milestone. It will be his first official legislative position and could shape his political relevance in the lead-up to future elections in Tamil Nadu.