Don't underestimate, nor expect too much: Kamal Haasan on Vijay's political rise

Actor-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan reacted to the political rise of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and said newcomers in politics should neither be underestimated nor expected to deliver too much immediately.

Speaking in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Haasan said, “Many new people have come in. But newcomers are nothing unusual in politics. When India got independence, all the ministers were newcomers too. So we shouldn’t underestimate newcomers, nor should we expect too much from them. You are the ones who voted, right? So you should keep observing what happens and make sure things are going properly. We are also keeping a watch...”

Haasan also said, “If a Tamil-speaking person from Tamil Nadu starts a political party, then it’s a Dravidian party.”

His remarks came days after Vijay took oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The results, announced on May 4, led to a hung Assembly for the first time in the state’s history.

Earlier, speaking to reporters outside Chennai airport, Haasan said Vijay should no longer be viewed as a film actor because he now holds greater responsibilities as Chief Minister.

“Vijay should no longer be looked at as a cinema actor. He has other responsibilities. A chief minister could come from any walk of life. I am proud that he has come from the film industry,” Haasan said, according to Cinema Express.

Haasan launched his political party in 2018 and remains part of the Secular Progressive Alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He has also spoken out on the political developments in Tamil Nadu after the election results.

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