Kamal Haasan to Enter Rajya Sabha as DMK Allots Seat to MNM in Key Political Move

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan to enter Rajya Sabha as DMK allocates seat to MNM amid language controversy

Veteran actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader Kamal Haasan is set to join the Rajya Sabha. This is an alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), giving one of its seats to his party. The decision is under the DMK’s pledge to its 2024 Lok Sabha election alliance with MNM and strengthens Haasan’s position in Tamil Nadu’s political arena.

DMK Announces Rajya Sabha Candidates

The DMK on Tuesday formally announced its candidates for the next Rajya Sabha polls. The candidates include senior lawyer P Wilson, who has been nominated for a second term, former state minister SR Sivalingam, and celebrated poet and novelist Salma. One seat has been allotted to MNM formally, paving the way for Kamal Haasan’s first entry into the Upper House of Parliament.

The DMK alliance, comprising Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK, has 133 MLAs in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. With the majority requirement, 34 votes per seat, the alliance is well-positioned to win four of the six vacant seats that will fall on July 24, 2025.

Salma’s Nomination Brings Symbolic Weight

Of the DMK nominations, Salma’s selection is being seen as symbolic and forward-thinking. A native of Rokkaya Malik, Salma is a renowned writer in Tamil literature, famous for her open accounts of gender and societal restrictions. A stalwart of the DMK, she was also chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board.

AIADMK Eyes Remaining Seats

The opposition AIADMK, with 62 MLAs, is expected to bag the remaining two Rajya Sabha seats, with backing from its allies, including the BJP (4 MLAs) and the O Panneerselvam faction. The party is reportedly considering candidates from Dalit and minority communities, while BJP leaders are lobbying for former state president K Annamalai’s nomination.

Haasan Faces Backlash Over Language Remarks

As Kamal Haasan’s political career picks up pace, he was at the center of a controversy this week. At a campaign event for his forthcoming film Thug Life in Chennai, the ‘Vikram’ star claimed that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” Speaking to Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, he declared, “Your language was born out of Tamil, so you too are included.”

The comment outraged Karnataka. BJP state president Vijayendra Yediyurappa accused the statement of being ‘uncultured’ and haughtily condemned Haasan as having insulted the sentiments of 6.5 crore Kannadigas and demanded an apology.

With the June 19 Rajya Sabha poll around the corner, Kamal Haasan’s possible entry into Parliament is a turning point in his political career that started in 2018, aligning MNM further with Tamil Nadu’s ruling coalition.