Haasan, alongside Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, and MNM leaders, signed and presented his nomination at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. His candidacy is part of the DMK’s seat-sharing deal, which granted one Rajya Sabha seat to MNM in exchange for its backing during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Political landscape & expected outcome
In the 234-seat Tamil Nadu Assembly, a candidate needs a minimum of 34 votes to secure a Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK-led INDIA coalition, comprising 158 MLAs (DMK: 133, Congress: 17, VCK: 4, CPI: 2, CPM: 2), is anticipated to easily clinch four seats.
The ruling DMK has announced its nominees for the June 19 Rajya Sabha elections, selecting poet Salma, incumbent MP and lawyer P. Wilson, and S.R. Sivalingam to represent the party in the Upper House.
MNM’s political journey
Kamal Haasan established Makkal Needhi Maiam in Madurai in 2018. Although MNM did not participate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it actively supported the DMK-led INDIA coalition in Tamil Nadu. In return, the DMK pledged a Rajya Sabha seat to MNM. Previously, MNM garnered 2.62% of the votes in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Thug Life & recent controversy
Haasan’s recent film, Thug Life, featuring Silambarasan, premiered on May 5 under the direction of Mani Ratnam. The film had a moderate box office opening, earning ₹17 crore on its first day.
Nevertheless, the film’s release was marred by controversy following Haasan’s comments on Kannada, where he claimed that “Kannada was born out of Tamil” during an event in Chennai. His statement ignited discussions and backlash, especially in Karnataka.
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