Kamal Haasan Set to Enter Rajya Sabha with DMK Support
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan is set to take his political journey to the national stage, with his entry into the Rajya Sabha now imminent. The move comes as part of a political understanding between his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu.
DMK-MNM Alliance Paves Way for Nomination
The foundation for Haasan’s Rajya Sabha entry was laid in March 2024 when MNM joined the DMK-led alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As part of this pact, MNM agreed not to field candidates in the elections and instead extended full support to the DMK in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
In return, the DMK promised one Rajya Sabha seat to MNM in the 2025 cycle. The pact was formally signed by Kamal Haasan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin at the party headquarters, marking a significant political development in the state.
Rajya Sabha Elections Scheduled for June 19
The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled for June 19, 2025. The elections will fill six vacant seats. Based on current legislative strength, the DMK-led alliance is expected to win four of these seats, while the opposition AIADMK is projected to win the remaining two.
Kamal Haasan is widely expected to be one of the four candidates nominated by the DMK alliance, fulfilling their promise and allowing MNM its first representation in the upper house of Parliament.
Haasan’s Political Journey Reaches New Milestone
Since founding MNM in February 2018, Kamal Haasan has positioned himself as a reformist and centrist voice in Tamil Nadu politics. While the party has yet to register significant electoral wins, Haasan’s active campaigning and ideological stance have earned him a distinct place in the state’s political discourse.
His 2021 Assembly bid from Coimbatore South narrowly failed, but the alliance with DMK and the Rajya Sabha seat offer him a new platform to advocate for his political vision.
What This Means for MNM and National Politics
Haasan’s impending entry into the Rajya Sabha is seen as a strategic repositioning of MNM from street-level politics to parliamentary influence. It gives the party a chance to shape national debates and legislation, even as it continues to build its grassroots presence.
Observers say Haasan’s presence in the upper house could bring a nuanced, reform-driven perspective, given his background in cinema, social activism, and policy advocacy. As Tamil Nadu’s political alliances evolve, his role in the national narrative is only expected to grow.
