MNM chief Kamal Haasan files nomination for Rajya Sabha in presence of CM Stalin

1 day ago 7

ARTICLE AD BOX

File picture of Makkal Needhi Maiam president and actor Kamal Haasan, during an interaction with The Hindu | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) President and actor Kamal Haasan filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha at the Tamil Nadu secretariat in Chennai on Friday (June 6, 2025), in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

DMK allies — VCK leader Thirumavalavan, MDMK leader Vaiko and Tamil Nadu Congress President Selvaperundagai — were also present.

With the DMK allocating one Rajya Sabha seat to Makkal Needhi Maiam, its founder and actor Kamal Haasan was earlier named the candidate for the Upper House of Parliament.

In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, each candidate requires a minimum of 34 votes to clinch a Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK-led INDIA bloc, with 158 MLAs (DMK: 133, Congress: 17, VCK: 4, CPI: 2, CPM: 2), is poised to win four seats comfortably.

The ruling DMK has named its three candidates for the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for June 19 this year. According to a release of the DMK, Salma, Advocate P. Wilson, and S.R. Sivalingam are its candidates.

Actor Kamal Haasan launched his party in Madurai in 2018. MNM did not contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, instead campaigning for the DMK-led INDIA bloc in the State. In return, the DMK had promised a Rajya Sabha seat for the party. MNM had secured 2.62% of the votes in the 2021 State Assembly election.