Kamal Haasan going to Rajya Sabha

Actor Kamal Haasan is set to become a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) decided to nominate him from its quota to the Upper House. Following the announcement, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin met Haasan at his residence today to congratulate him.

Udhayanidhi later shared a message on X, stating, “We met the leader of the Makkal Needhi Maiyam - Kalaignani @ikamalhaasan sir at his residence today as a courtesy. My love and gratitude to Kamal sir for welcoming us warmly and exchanging views on various fields such as politics and art. @maiyamofficial”

Reportedly, DMK had assured Haasan a Rajya Sabha berth as part of their electoral pact in 2024. Haasan’s party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) did not contest the Lok Sabha elections but extended its full support to the INDIA-bloc led by the DMK in Tamil Nadu. On March 9, 2024, Haasan visited the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, where he signed an agreement with the DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Haasan had clarified that his decision to align with the DMK-led bloc was driven by national interest rather than personal political gains. “I have shook hands where it had to be since this is about the country,” he said. “I am not going to contest. But this (INDIA-bloc) alliance will have our full support. Since it is not for a position but for the country.”

As per the agreement, Haasan was supposed to campaign for the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the Lok Sabha polls, in return for a Rajya Sabha nomination from the DMK’s quota in 2025. With the tenure of at least six Rajya Sabha MPs, including members from DMK, AIADMK, and PMK, set to conclude by June 2025, the party has now moved forward with its commitment to Haasan.

Haasan, considered one of the finest actors in Indian cinema, ventured into politics in 2018 by launching his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). Party sources revealed that the decision to send him to the Rajya Sabha was taken last year, well ahead of the 2024 General Elections.