Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan is poised to make his debut in Parliament, with a Rajya Sabha seat coming his way through a strategic alliance with Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK. Elections for eight Rajya Sabha seats — six in Tamil Nadu and two in Assam — are scheduled for June 19. The announcement comes after Haasan’s party joined the DMK-led alliance in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Offered Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha — Haasan chose the latter
Following the pre-poll alliance, the DMK reportedly offered Haasan a choice: either contest a Lok Sabha seat or accept a post-poll Rajya Sabha nomination. The 70-year-old actor-politician declined to enter the Lok Sabha fray, instead opting for the Upper House, even as the MNM threw its weight behind the DMK-Congress combine in Tamil Nadu.
Hassan’s anti-Dravidian to alliance politics
Haasan launched MNM in 2018 as an alternative to the Dravidian political duopoly of DMK and AIADMK. His alignment with DMK for the 2024 polls marked a significant shift from his original anti-establishment stance. Explaining the pivot, Haasan stated his decision was rooted in national interest, not personal ambition.
Haasan had previously hinted at a possible parliamentary role. At MNM’s 8th founding day event in Chennai earlier this year, he said, “In this year, our voice will be heard in Parliament. Next year, your voice will be heard in the State Assembly.”
DMK set to secure majority of Rajya Sabha seats
The Rajya Sabha term for six MPs from Tamil Nadu, including Anbumani Ramadoss and Vaiko, ends on July 25. With 134 MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the DMK is expected to win four of the six Rajya Sabha seats. The AIADMK, now aligned with the BJP, is likely to claim the remaining two.