Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief and actor Kamal Haasan is all set to enter the Rajya Sabha following a poll deal with Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK. Elections for eight Rajya Sabha seats – six in Tamil Nadu and two in Assam – will be held on June 19.
After his Makkal Needhi Maiam formally joined the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Haasan was offered the option of either contesting one Lok Sabha seat or accepting a post-poll Rajya Sabha berth. However, the 70-year-old opted out of contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
Interestingly, Haasan had initially floated the MNM in 2018 as an alternative to the Dravidian parties of DMK and AIADMK.
The term of six MPs from Tamil Nadu – Anbumani Ramadoss, M Shanmugam, N Chandrasegharan, M Mohammed Abdulla, P Wilson, and Vaiko – will expire on July 25.
As per the current strength of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, where the DMK has 134 MLAs, the party is expected to secure four of the six Rajya Sabha seats. The remaining two are likely to go to the AIADMK, which has again joined hands with the BJP.
Published On:
May 28, 2025
