Chennai (Tamil Nadu): In a significant political development, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder and actor Kamal Haasan has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as part of a pre-election understanding. The nomination comes ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for June 19, 2025.
Confirming the development, MNM leader Murali Appas said, “We have passed a resolution to elect Kamal Haasan as a Rajya Sabha member from the Makkal Needhi Maiam party.”
Rajya Sabha Seat Sharing and Political Arithmetic
The DMK-led INDIA bloc, which commands a majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, is well-positioned to win four out of six seats being contested. Each candidate needs at least 34 votes to secure a seat. The ruling coalition, consisting of DMK (133), Congress (17), VCK (4), CPI (2), and CPM (2), holds 158 MLAs, making its position formidable.
The DMK has also announced its three official nominees:
- Salma (poet and women’s rights activist)
- Advocate P Wilson (sitting MP and legal expert)
- SR Sivalingam (party loyalist and former MLA)
Background of Alliance
Kamal Haasan’s MNM had not contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, choosing instead to campaign for the DMK-led INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu. In return, the DMK had reportedly agreed to offer MNM a Rajya Sabha berth—a promise now fulfilled.
Despite limited electoral success—MNM secured 2.62% of the vote share in the 2021 state assembly elections—Haasan continues to wield significant influence in Tamil Nadu’s socio-political landscape through his advocacy and public presence.
Controversy: Haasan’s Linguistic Remark Sparks Karnataka Outrage
Just as Haasan’s political career appeared to gain new momentum, he has found himself embroiled in linguistic controversy.
In a recent statement, Kamal Haasan allegedly claimed that “Kannada has its roots in Tamil,” sparking fierce backlash in neighbouring Karnataka.
BJP Karnataka President Vijayendra Yediyurappa slammed Haasan in a post on X (formerly Twitter), demanding an unconditional apology.
“One should love their mother tongue, but showing disrespect to another is uncultured. Kamal Haasan, who acted in Kannada films, is now displaying arrogance and ungratefulness by insulting the language and the Kannada people,” Yediyurappa stated.
The BJP MLA further asserted Kannada’s historic prominence and international reputation, calling Haasan’s remarks “narrow-minded and factually incorrect.”
Broader Implications
The controversy threatens to overshadow what is otherwise a strategic political gain for Kamal Haasan and his party. While his elevation to the Rajya Sabha marks his formal entry into national politics, the backlash from Karnataka may affect his image as a pan-Indian cultural figure.
It also underscores the sensitivity of language politics in South India, where linguistic pride is closely intertwined with regional identity and electoral politics.