MNM Chief Kamal Haasan Files Nomination For Rajya Sabha Seat From Tamil Nadu

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan has formally entered the race for the Rajya Sabha, filing his nomination papers at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat.

He was accompanied by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Senior leaders from alliance parties, including Viduthalai Chirutai Katchi (VCK)’s Thol. Thirumavalavan, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK)’s Vaiko, and TN Congress president Selvaperunthagai were also present on the occasion, reported Business Line

The DMK had allotted one Rajya Sabha seat to MNM and its founder and actor Kamal Haasan was earlier named the candidate for the Upper House of Parliament.

To win a seat, a candidate needs 34 votes in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

With 158 MLAs between them—DMK (133), Congress (17), VCK (4), CPI (2), and CPM (2)—the DMK-led INDIA bloc is well-positioned to secure four seats.

Alongside Haasan, the DMK has nominated poet and former Tamil Official Language Commission chairperson Salma, senior advocate P Wilson, and former minister S R Sivalingam for the upcoming election scheduled for 19 June.

Haasan had launched Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2018 at a public event in Madurai, entering politics after a long career in movies.

While MNM did not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it campaigned for the DMK-led INDIA alliance. In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the party polled 2.62 per cent of the vote.