Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan is set to make his debut in the Rajya Sabha, backed by the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has decided to allocate one of its four Rajya Sabha seats to Haasan’s party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), as part of an electoral pact formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The MNM has already passed a resolution officially nominating Haasan to the Upper House. Haasan launched his political party in 2018 with a vision to provide an alternative to traditional governance in Tamil Nadu.
On Tuesday, DMK also announced its other three candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections: senior advocate P Wilson, poet and writer Salma, and former minister SR Sivalingam. Chief Minister MK Stalin, who is also the party president, confirmed the MNM seat allocation in an official party statement.
Six Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu are due to retire on July 24, 2025, including prominent leaders Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK) and Vaiko (MDMK). Given the current strength of DMK and its allies in the state assembly, the party is positioned to win four of the six seats, while the AIADMK, with its allies like the BJP, is expected to secure the remaining two.
Haasan Draws Fire for Language Remark
Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan courted controversy with a recent statement linking Kannada to Tamil, made during a promotional event for his upcoming film Thug Life in Chennai. In his speech, he said:
“Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included [in this family].”
The comment, made while addressing Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, was swiftly condemned in Karnataka, sparking a political backlash. BJP state president Vijayendra Yediyurappa called Haasan’s remark “uncultured” and accused him of hurting the sentiments of 6.5 crore Kannadigas to elevate Tamil at the cost of another language’s dignity. He has demanded a public apology from the actor.
Haasan, a long-time advocate of Tamil pride and cultural unity, has yet to respond to the controversy. The language row now casts a shadow over his entry into national politics via the Rajya Sabha.
